BOWER-BIRD 49 
are used by the birds as a playing-house or ‘run,’ as it is termed, 
and are used by the males to attract the females. The ‘run’ of the 
Satin-bird is much smaller, being less than one foot in length, and 
moreover differs from that just described in being decorated with 
the highly-coloured feathers of the Parrot-tribe ; the Chlamydera, on 
the other hand, collects around its ‘run’ a quantity of stones, shells, 
bleached bones, ete. ; they are also strewed down the centre within.” 
This statement, marvellous as it seemed, has been proved by 
many subsequent observers to be strictly true, and it must be 
borne in mind that these structures! each of which as above 
described he next year (1 Sept. 1841) figured (B. Austral. iv. 
pls. 8, 10), have nothing to do with nests of the birds—indeed, 
their mode of nidification, which was not made known until some 
years later, presents no extraordinary feature. Moreover, the birds 
will build their ‘bowers ” in confinement, and therein disport them- 
selves, as has been repeatedly shewn in the Zoological Gardens? by 
the Satin-bird last mentioned, Ptilorhynchus violaceus. Subsequently 
it was found that the Regent-bird, Sericulus melinus, a species long 
before known, had the habit of making a “bower” of similar kind, 
though built, so to speak, in another style of architecture, and having 
for its chief decoration the shells of a small species of Heliz. 
The account of these curious birds which may be most 
conveniently consulted is that in Gould’s Handbook to the Birds of 
Australia (i. pp. 441-461), published in 1865; but since that time 
discoveries still more wonderful have been made. A bird of New 
Guinea, originally referred to the genus Ptilorhynchus, but now 
recognized as Amblyornis inornatus, has been found by Sign. Beccari 
to present not only a modification of bower-building, but an 
appreciation of beauty perhaps unparalleled in the animal world. 
His interesting observations (Annali del Mus. Civ. de Storia Nat. 
di Genova, ix. pp. 382-400, tav. viii.) shew that this species, which 
he not inaptly calls the “Gardener” (Gjardiniere), builds at the foot 
-of a small tree a kind of hut or cabin (capanna) some two feet in 
height, roofed with orchid-stems that slope to the ground, regularly 
1 Gould brought home with him at least two examples, which he gave to the 
British Museum. There is no reason to suppose that this extraordinary habit 
had been described before the date above given, or that the name ‘‘ Bower-lird”’ 
had been previously used, and yet we find Trelawny in his Alemoirs of Shelley, 
published in 1878, referring to himself (i. p. 186) as saying, in a conversation not 
later than 1822, ‘‘You two have built your nest after the fashion of the Aus- 
tralian bower-birds” ! 
2 The ordinary visitor to these gardens seems to regard the structures of the 
Bower-birds without any intelligent interest. He perhaps supposes that -hey are 
the handiwork of one or other of the keepers. From my own long connexion 
with the Zoological Society, I think I am able to state that neither in this nor any- 
thing else of the kind is any deception practised. The Bower-birds are supplied 
with matcrials, and that is all. 
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