^'°'i9?i^'] XL'BLIXG. The Satin Boiver Bird. 29 



surface appeared speckled ijUie-hlack and creamy-wliite when 

 >een from underneath, the under tail coverts whitish brown. 13th 

 February, visited Garie. Satins neither seen nor heard. 



26th February, at Audley. several Satins, among them a dark- 

 blue one, noticed close to the water's edge, in tree covered with 

 a red fruit about the size of a cherry, on which they appeared to 

 feed. The "cheerrfi" call was heard, and also the "fur-r-r-r-r." 

 At bower Xo. i the new plumage of the two Satins seemed now 

 almost complete, but the golden-brown of the outer wings still 

 persisted. W'itliout the aid of glasses the birds looked exactly 

 like full dark-blue ones. About 4 birds were noted together, 

 and they were nc»t the least concerned about my presence under- 

 neath, singing ami performing away for all they were worth 

 One would sit on a thin branch with lowered head and tail, and 

 wings lifted slightly, uttering the various familiar notes, then 

 hopping a few inches to the side, starting afresh, and so on. It 

 made almost the impression of a rehearsal. More Satins and 

 Catbirds observed in several ])laces further u]) the river. X'isited 

 next morning early again the brush gully at Garie, but once more 

 witiiout result as regards Hower-Birds or their bowers, although 

 the ground seemed suitable enough. 



Found bower Xo. 3 much neglected and deserted. No birds 

 alx)ut there either. Presumably there is no fruit available just 

 now in the adjoining jungle parts. 



6th March, went up western side of river to flat ojj])osite the 

 hut at end of fig-tree flat. Searched the flat, which is thickly 

 covered with high bracken fern, and finally discovered bower 

 Xo. 6, or, rather, its sorry remains, since, being situated little 

 alx)ve river level, it had evidentlv had the same fate as bower Xo. 

 I — that is, was swept o^ by the flood. The water-logged 

 platform, 3 feet in diameter, was. however, fairly intact. It 

 was close to a huge fallen tree trunk among low bushy trees, not 

 far from the water. A fig-tree, a large turpentine, and some 

 cabbage palms were also near by. Behind one of the tw^o fig- 

 trees on the flat, on the foot of the hillside, I found a neat, but 

 very small, playground among some rocks, measuring only 15 by 

 12 inches, its only decoration consisting of a piece of blue glass. 

 Another playground there was situated under a Christmas bush. 

 All the time I was on the flat about six or more Satins, includ- 

 ing a dark-blue male, or probably a bird in plumage change, 

 were seen and heard in the trees overhead, in company with a few 

 Catbirds old and young. 



It will be noticed that bowers Xo. t. 4 and 5 were all of small 

 size and alike and simple in construction, whilst bowers Xo. 2 

 and 3, both built by the same bird, were larger and most care- 

 fully and expertly put together. From this it may be concluded 

 that the tAvo latter were built by an old male and ex|)ert at the 

 game, whilst the others belonged to younger and less ex- 

 perienced members of the tribe. 



