Nests, Eggs, and Play-grounds of Australian Bower-Birds. 31 



Chlamydodera nuchalis, Jardine and Selby. 



Great Bower-Bird. 



[Plate III.] 



Figure.— QoxxXdi, Birds of Australia, fol,, vol. iv. pi. 9. 

 Reference— C-d,i. B. Brit. Mus., vi. p. 391. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern Territory, West and 

 North- West Australia. 



Nest and Eggs. — Unknown. 



Observations. — This exceedingly fine species is the 

 western ally of the Queensland Bower- Bird (C. orientalis), 

 and the largest of its genus. Little is known of this species. 



Captain Stokes, in his " Discoveries of Australia," mentions 

 the remarkable bowers of this bird which he had seen at the 

 Victoria Eiver. To Mr H. H. Johnston of the Survey Office, 

 Western Australia, I am obliged for photographs he took of 

 a fine bower at Cambridge Gulf. The structure was about 

 30 inches through the avenue, which was about 18 inches 

 wide at either end, and with walls about the same dimensions 

 in height. The bower was built of fine twigs, and heaped 

 about, principally at the entrances, with bleached shells. The 

 centre of the avenue also contained a few shells and stones. 



Chlamydodera orientalis, Gould. 

 Queensland Bower-Bird. 



Figure.— Gonld-Sh3irY)e, Birds of New Guinea, vol. i. pi. 44. 



Eeference.—C&t. B. Brit. Mus., vi. p. 392. 



Description of Eggs.— l^oith, Victorian Naturalist (1896). 



Geographical Distribution. — North Queensland and 

 Northern Territory (probably). 



])j'est. — Flat, slightly concave ; loosely constructed of coarse 

 twigs, and lined with finer twigs ; usually placed in a small tree 

 or sapling in scrub. Dimensions over all — diameter, 8 to 10 

 inches, by 4 inches in depth. Usually placed at a height of 

 about 10 to 12 feet from the ground, in open forest country. 



Bggs. — Clutch, 2; shape, roundish oval, slightly pointed 

 towards one end; texture of shell fine ; surface glossy; colour 

 light greenish-grey, curiously but moderately streaked with 



