Nests, Eggs, and Play -grounds of Aiistralian Boicer-Birds. 25 



Eegent-Bird {Sericidus melinus). These coastal scrubs are the 

 stronghold, of the Eegent-Bird, whereas the Spotted Bower- 

 Bird, as I have stated, seeks generally the dry and arid parts 

 of the interior. I have also the testimony of a keen observer 

 in the former locality that the Spotted Bower-Bird is scarce 

 there. Moreover, nothing would be easier, at first sight, than 

 to mistake a female Regent- Bird for a Spotted Bower-Bird 

 when flushed from its nest. 



The first authenticated Qgg discovered of the Spotted 

 Bower-Bird was probably that found by Mr J. B. White, 

 and described by Dr Ramsay, vide Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society, 1874. The same year (1874) Mr Hermann 

 Lan discovered a nest of this Bower-Bird near Whitstone, 

 South Queensland. I shall quote from his MS. his original 

 and interesting note. 



" This bird makes for the fruit when it ripens in the 

 garden, especially the figs. The scrub, where it comes 

 from, grows on a sandy bottom in the neighbourhood of 

 the station. In this scrub I several times espied the bower 

 of the bird, not like the edifice of the Satin-Bird, which is 

 closed on the top, but open. A cartful of bones — the 

 vertebrae of sheep predominating — pieces of glass, unripe 

 wild fruit, even a shilling, sometimes betray the entrance 

 of the bower. 



" While bathing one afternoon in M'Intyre Creek, half a 

 mile from the scrub, I observed a Bower-Bird flying with a 

 caterpillar in its bill. After dressing, I followed in the 

 direction, and found its nest high in a ti-tree {Melaleuca) 

 over the water, and, procuring a ladder, beheld two young 

 in the nest. Eventually, I took the nest and young home, 

 feeding the young for two months, as long as the season 

 lasted, but at last they died. 



" At the same place (Whitstone) I again got a nest with 

 2 eggs, December 1874. The nest represents small sticks, 

 like that of a pigeon, but lined with grass, etc." 



When Mr Lan was returning to his fatherland, this 

 particular nest and eggs found a secure resting-place in 

 the beautiful collection of Mr D. Le Souef at the Royal 

 Park, Melbourne. 



