NOTE -BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 157 



and beautifully lined with tall grasses, so disposed tliat 

 their upper ends nearly met The decorations were 

 very profuse, consisting of bivalve shells, skulls of small 

 animals, and other bones. 



Evident and beautiful indications of design (continues Mr. 

 Gould) arc manifest throughout the whole of the bower and deco- 

 rations formed by this species, particularly in the manner in which 

 the stones are placed within the bower, apparently to keep the 

 grasses with which it is lined fixed firmly in their places : these 

 stones diverge from the mouth of the run on each side so as to 

 form little paths, while the immense collection of decorative mate- 

 rials, bones, shells, &c. are placed in a heap before the entrance 

 of the avenue, this arrangement being the same at both ends. In 

 some of the larger bowers, wliich had evidently been resorted to 

 for many years, I have seen nearly half a bushel of bones, shells, 

 &c., at each of the entrances. In some instances, small bowers, 

 composed almost entirely of grasses, apparently the commencement 

 of a new place of rendezvous, were observable. I frequently found 

 these structures at a considerable distance from the rivers, from 

 the borders of which they could alone have procured the shells, 

 and small, round pebbly stones ; their collection and transportation 

 must, therefore, be a task of great labour and difficidty. As these 

 birds feed almost entirely upon seeds and fruits, the shells and 

 bones cannot have been collected for any other purpose than orna- 

 ment ; besides, it is only those which have been bleached perfectly 

 white in the sun, or such as have been roasted by the natives, and 

 by this means whitened, that attract their attention. I fully 

 ascertained that these runs, like those of the satin bower-bird, 

 formed the rendezvous of many individuals ; for, after secreting 

 myself for a short space of time near one of them, I killed two 

 males which I had previously seen running through the avenue. 



The plumage of this species is remarkable. A rich 

 bro^vn pervades the crowTi of the head, the ear-coverts 

 and the throat, each feather being bordered by a narrow 

 black line ; and, on the crown, the feathers are small 

 and tipped mth silver gray. The back of the neck is 

 crossed by a beautiful, broad, light, rosy pink band of 

 elongated feathers, so as to form a sort of occipital crest. 

 The wings, tail, and upper surface, are deep brown, every 

 feather of the back, rump, scapularies, and secondaries, 



