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the arid and dry interior provinces. The plumage is of various

shades of brown with beautifully spotted markings ; the male has

a baud or frill on the back of the neck of a beautiful rose-pink

shade; it has a harsh scolding voice, yet it is an admirable

mimic.


The nest, loosely constructed of twigs, is placed in a thick

bush, or on the forked branches of a small tree ; its eggs (two or

three) are beautifully and wonderfully marked (colour not

given). This species adds bones to its bower or play-ground ; as

many as 1,320 bones were counted at one, another had go at

entrance and 92 at rear ; size of bower, walls i2in. high, 2oiu.

long, 7m. apart.


Regent-bird (Sericulus melinus).


He describes this as being one of the most gorgeous birds

that emblazon the sub-tropical scrubs of E. Australia. The

male has strikingly beautiful plumage of black and gold, yellow-

coloured eyes and bill. The female is more soberly clad in a

brownish olive-mottled dress, dark brown eyes and bill.


The eggs (mostly two) are strikingly and beautifully

marked, judging from the illustration ; the colour is not stated.

Its nest is constructed entirely of sticks, and twigs, and is very

difficult to find. The bower comparatively small, 7 or 8 in. high,

7 in. long, in. between walls.


Goeden Bower-bird (Prionodura newtoniana).


This beautiful bird vies in its golden splendour with the

Regent-bird; its home, the rich palm scrubs of Northern

Queensland. A11 authenticated nest has not yet been discovered.

Its bower is a wonderful structure, usually built on the ground

between two trees or tree and bush, constructed of twigs, piled

up round one tree in a pyramid form, 4 to 6 ft. high; a similar

pile 18 in. high, is built round the foot of the other tree, the

intervening space being arched over with stems of climbing

plants; piles and arch are decorated with white moss, the arch

more so with clusters of green fruit, resembling wild grapes ;

scattered around are a number of liut-like erections, giving the

spot the appearance of a miniature blacks’ camp.


The illustrations are beautiful reproductions of photo¬

graphs of nest and bowers taken in situ , and consist of:


Bower of Satin-bird. Bower of Spotted Bower-bird, shew¬

ing sheeps’ bones used as decorations. Nest and eggs of Regent-

bird. Bower of Regent-bird.



