148 SPOTTED BOWER BIRD. 



bower-bird. They are outwardly built of twigs, 

 and beautifully lined with tall grasses, so disposed 

 that their heads nearly meet. The decorations 

 are very profuse; and consist of bivalve shells, 

 crania of small mammalia, and other bones. Evi- 

 dent and beautiful indications of design are mani- 

 fest throughout the whole of the bower, and its 

 decorations, formed by this species ; particularly 

 in the manner in which the stones are placed 

 within the bower, apparently to keep the grasses, 

 with which it is lined, firmly fixed in their places. 

 These stones diverge from the mouth of the run 

 on each side, so as to form little paths, while the 

 immense collection of decorative materials are 

 placed in a heap before the entrance of the avenue ; 

 this arrangement being the same at both ends. 

 In some instances, small bowers, composed almost 

 entirely of grasses, apparently the commencement 

 of a new place of rendezvous, were observable. 

 These structures were at a considerable distance 

 from rivers, from the borders of which the birds 

 could alone have procured the shells and small 

 round pebbly stones. Their collection and trans- 

 portation must, therefore, have been a task of great 

 labour and difficulty. As these birds feed almost 

 entirely upon seeds and fruit, the shells and bones 

 cannot have been collected for any other purpose 

 than ornament ; besides, it is only those that have 

 been bleached perfectly white by the sun, or such 



