148



THE SATIN BOWER-BIRD.


Sir, —I note in issue of Magazine just to hand (p. 123) Mr. Phillipps

says: “I am surprised that Mr. Page should give the height of the Satin-

birds’bower as 12 inches.” In my article (p. 69) I stated clearly that most

of the information it contained was culled from an article by Mr. A. J.

Campbell, of Melbourne, in “ Bird Lore,” October issue, 1900, so that it is

not really I that give the height as 12 inches but Mr. A. J. Campbell. I

will now quote the passage in extenso : “The curious play house, or lovers’

arbour is built uoon the ground. It has apparently no connection with

the nests, which may be any distance away. One of these bowers I collected

in Xmas.-tide 1884. It was situated amongst bracken in open forest.

There was a cleared circular space about 26 inches across, in the ferns,

floored with twigs well trodden down. I11 the centre were erected two

parallel walls of pliable twigs, tapering and arching towards the top, which

was 12 inches in height. The walls were about 10 inches long and 6 inches

apart. In the avenue and round about were placed gay feathers of

Parrots.”


It would appear from Mr. Phillipps’ experience that the Satin Bower-

bird, in a state of nature, frequently changes the site of bower, or else,

being at full liberty, it is otherwise engaged than in continuous building.

For it would appear from Mr. Phillipps’ facts that, even in a large aviary,

they get hold of all the available material and go on building in the same

place (I presume from lack of choice) till ultimately a huge structure is

raised; which is not customary in their native haunts. If this is so, it

points to the necessity of the aviculturist comparing his data with those

of the field naturalist, to arrive at a correct conclusion.


I myself am convinced that the birds we keep, even in large outdoor

aviaries, vary considerably in their habits and demeanour under such con¬

ditions from what they do when in full liberty. Though at the same time, as

we know from experience, that valuable knowledge has been gained by the

aviculturist,especially concerning song, method of courting, moulting, nidifi-

cation, &c. For myself, I am sure that if a pair of Satin Bower-birds had an

enclosure of sufficient size, they would construct a bower similar to that

described by Mr. Campbell, and that given a plenitude of material, they

would choose the shorter in lieu of the “ 2—3 foot poplar rod,” which given

plenty of choice is probably the last they would choose.


Wesley T. Page.


P.s. —If Mr. Phillipps would care to have a look at the illustrations

and peruse Mr. Campbell’s article I shall be pleased to post it on to him—

he can return same at his convenience, as I have only one copy ( b).


W. T. P.



(<$.) I am very much obliged, but I now have Mr. A. J. Campbell’s excellent book.—R.P.



