Nests, Eggs, and Play -groit ads of Australian Bmuer-Birds. 33 



Again writing, Mr Cornwall says: — ''Be the Queensland 

 Bower-Bird, since writing you last I have had further 

 evidence to convict this rogue of what I charged him with. 

 A bird was seen to fly right to the fowl's ^est in an empty 

 shed, and immediately afterwards emerge with an egg in its 

 long claws. But it proved rather a heavy burden, for the 

 bird dropped it ere he had gone many yards." 



Again the same correspondent favours me : — " I very often 

 come across their playing-bowers. Two years ago they built 

 a very fine one on the roof of the verandah of this house. I 

 was not liviug here then, but have often seen the birds play- 

 ing about it, and amongst the branches of two large Poinciana 

 trees which droop right over the roof." 



During a recent tour to Northern Queensland, Mr Dudley 

 Le Souef took a very successful photograph of a play-house 

 of this Bower-Bird. 



BOWEE OF THE QUEF.NSLAND BOWEK-BIRD. 

 From a Photo by Mr D. Le SotiSf. 



As might be expected, the eggs of the Queensland Bowser- 

 Bird possess the remarkable characteristics of those of the 

 VOL. XIV. ■ c 



