SPOTTED BOWER-BIRD. 14? 



come to drink. On one occasion, near the termi- 

 nation of a long drought, he was guided by a native 

 to a deep basin in a rock, which still held water 

 from the rains of many months before, and where 

 numbers of the birds, as well as honeysuckers and 

 parrots, were constantly assembling throughout 

 the day. This natural reservoir had probably been 

 but seldom, if ever, visited by a white man, as it 

 was situated in a remote mountain, and presented 

 no attraction to any person but a naturalist. His 

 presence was evidently regarded with suspicion by 

 the visitants to the spot ; but while he remained 

 lying on the ground perfectly motionless, though 

 close to the water, their thirst overpowered their 

 fear, and they would dash down, and eagerly take 

 their fill, although an enormous black snake was 

 lying coiled upon a piece of wood near the edge 

 of the pool. The spotted bower-birds were by far 

 the shyest of the whole. 



In many of its actions, and in the greater part 

 of its economy, much similarity exists between 

 this species and the satin bower-bird ; particularly 

 in the curious habit of constructing an artificial 

 bower or play-ground. The situations of these 

 runs or bovvers are much varied. They were found 

 both on the plains studded with the acacia pen- 

 dula and other small trees, and in the brushes 

 clothing the lower hills. They are considerably 

 longer and more avenue-like than those of the satin 



