OF VICTORIA. 227 



slightly overlapping on the top. Every animal has some 

 way of enjoying itself, and this is the one chosen by the 

 Bower-birds, besides being one of the means employed 

 in natural selection. Some people say this bird is the 

 greatest pest we have if the garden be near the brake of 

 scrub to which they mostly resort. Though it is a 

 suspicious and extremely wary bird, it is a bold one, and 

 will dash into a fruit tree that is " almost under your 

 nose." At the same time it calls out in a very brave way, 

 almost impudent, yet the slightest hostile movement will 

 cause the bird to vanish like magic. I should think such 



Fig. 50. Head of Spotted Bower-bird (nostrils exposed). Natural 



size. 



a cute personage makes a mistake when visiting a fruit 

 tree to use loud, defiant cries — sometimes its own notes, 

 but often a bad imitation of a common bird in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Their food is partly composed of insects, but in the 

 season of what may be growing in the garden, such as 

 tomatoes and chilies — the latter, if swallowed whole, not 

 being hot. In Queensland the small fruits of a bright 

 colour, as guavas, are warred upon, which is reciprocated 

 by the owners. 



