22 XLT.LIXG, The Satin J lower Bird. Tisffub" 



These notes, repeatetl again and again, were taken down on tlie 

 spot, and are reproduced as best I can. 



Now and then during the performance he would Hft a leaf, a 

 flower, a feather, or the string of blue beads, as if to show the 

 female the treasures and finery he had. and was singing their 

 praise. Finally, the female hopped into the tussock, flew into 

 a tree, preened herself, and departed, the male remaining for a 

 short while uttering short cries, with down-bent head. 



It was a remarkable performance, and I was fortunate in 

 being able to watch the proceedings at such a short di>tance. The 

 whole programme extended over 35 minutes. 



After that 1 took u]) my usual position near the bower, lying 

 on the ground and filling in my short notes, when I became aware 

 of the bird's presence, and saw him behind me with a bill full of 

 Billardiera blossoms. Perhaps he was curious to find out whether 

 I put down correctly everything as 1 had seen and heard it. He 

 did not, however, go to the bower, but deposited his flowers some- 

 where, and flew ofif, not returning until a quarter to nine. I 

 had thrown down a few more cherries for him, which he began 

 to eat. It was then that I got a snapshot of him at only 4 feet 

 distance. He then brought the blossoms previously left among 

 the tussocks, and departed. The sun was now shining fully into 

 the bower, and he did not return. But about 9 o'clock I listened 

 to a similar performance, enacted a little distance away in the 

 shade of the scrub. 



Calls of green Bower-Birds were heard now nearer, iiow far- 

 ther away ; also the rattling notes of the blue-black. Once more 

 then, after a little silence, came from the same place in the 

 scrub the 'Tfae ffae" of the female, followed by the ordinary 

 ,drawn-out call ("cherru") of the male, and again by 'ffae ft'ae." 

 Then the male uttered his ordinary call, which was accompanied 

 by the imitation of various birds' notes, among which I recognised 

 those of the Crimson Parrot. lUitcherbinl iCracficiis torqnatiis), 

 and others; this lasted till nearlv 10 o'ck)ck, when Mr. Pinter ar- 

 rived. 



In the jungle afterwards two or three Catbirds were observed, 

 also a Pilotbird { P\cnoptilus floccosus), on the hillside behind it. 

 At a (|uarter to 4, ^Ir. Potter secured, as it turned out after- 

 wards, a fine photograph of the Satin standing in front of bi>wer 

 No. 2 in characteristic attitude. It was destined to be the last 

 at this bower. Meanwhile I found four Lvre-IUrd mounds at 

 the fringe of the trees. On mv return I noticed two nests in 

 mistletoe clumps, growing on two Casuarinas on the hillside. 

 These were reserved iov later investigation, as we had to depart 

 on our return journey. 



27th November, passing bower No. i. 1 found the length of the 

 walls, which were very thin, reduced to 9 and <)lj niches, re- 

 spectively, the whole structure looking rather shabby. Did not 



