Nests, Eggs, and Play-grounds of Australian Boicer-Birds. 23 



on the Herberton road, at a distance of thirty-two miles 

 from Cairns. Both parent birds were secured at the time 

 of taking the eggs, which were in an advanced state of 

 incubation. 



Breeding months, September to December or January. 



Although these two species of Cat-Birds are included in 

 the Bower-Bird family, so far as observations have gone, they 

 do not build bowers, nor have any particular playing-places 

 been noticed by observers. Perhaps they possess some in- 

 significant playing-place — merely a bare spot of earth, with 

 a few leaves placed thereon, like the play-ground of the 

 Tooth-billed Cat-Bird (Scenojpmus) — or perchance the birds 

 select a stump or log, which they frequent to play, like the 

 Eifle-Bird (Ftilorhis). 



Chlamydodera maculata, Gould. 



Spotted Bower-Bird. 



[Plate II.] 



Figure. — Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. pi. 8. 



Befere^m.—Csit. B. Brit. Mus., vi. p. 389. 



Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay, P.Z.S., p. 605 (1874); Ramsaj^, 

 P.L.S., N.S.W., vol. vii. (1882); Campbell, Southern Science 

 Record (1883); North, P.L.S., N.W.S., vol. i., 2ad Series 

 (1886). 



Geographical Distribution. — Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, and South Australia. 



Nest. — Flat, somewhat concave; loosely constructed of 

 dead twigs or fine sticks ; lined inside with finer twigs and 

 grass ; usually situated in a thick bush or tree in open forest 

 country. Sometimes the nest is so frail that the contents 

 may be seen through the structure from underneath. Dimen- 

 sions over all, 10 inches in diameter. 



Eggs. — Clutch 2, occasionally 3 ; shape inclined to oval, 

 more pointed towards one end ; texture of shell fine ; surface 

 slightly glossy ; ground colour light greenish-yellow. There 



