50 



FOREIGN BIRDS FOR CAGE AND AVIARY. 



CHAPTER III. 



BOWER-BIRDS (Ptilonorhynchida). 



I believe that most writers consider these: birds to be 

 more nearly related to the Birds of Paradise than to 

 any others ; Goulld undoubtedly thought -so, and states 

 as much (" Handbook to Birds of Australia," Vol. I., p. 

 441.). Dr. Sharpe, however ("Catalogue of Birds in 

 the Collection of the British Museum," Vol. VI.), places 

 them as a sub-family of the Timeliine Thrushes, and 

 observes : " Their habits seem to me to associate them 

 with the Ground 1 Thrushes and Babblers, of which they 

 will form an outlying group with affinities towards the 

 Crows -and Paradl-senou-ds." The late Professor Alfred 

 Xewton ("Dictionary of Birds," p. 51) says: "By 

 most systematistis these 'birds are placed among the 

 Paradiseidte (Birds of Paradise); 'but in the 'British 

 Museum Catalogue of Birds' (VI., pp. 380-396) they are 

 to be found in the ' limbo large and ibroad ' oi 

 Timeliid/c though allowed tihe rank of a sub-family, 

 Ptilonorhynchince, the name being taken from the 

 feathered and not the bare (as might, from its 

 etymology, have been expected) condition o>f the base 

 of' the bill." 



The Satin Bower-bir<5 certainly has the aspect of a 

 glorified Crow ; and,_ in its awkward, ridiculous eiide 

 jumps and alternate flapping of first one wing and then 

 the other, it behaves much as I have seen a Raven do 

 when iu a sportive tumour. The bird never struck me 

 as having anything in common with the Thrushes ; its 

 love of 'bright colours and tendency to cany about 

 pebbles, bon-ss and feathers to decorate its tunnels 

 (bowers) is more .characteristic of the Corvidce and 

 Sturniace, and its extraordinary songs bear a vague 

 resemblance to some parts of the performance of our 

 European Starling. Its capacity for mimicry and learn- 

 ing to 'talk or imitate the mewing of a cat again indicate 

 affinity to the Crows and Starlings rather than to the 

 Thrushes. Though a trifle larger, this Bower-bird, both 

 in its Hong awkward hops, the general outline of its 

 heavy bill (the upper mandible o<f which, however, is 

 more heavily feathered as well as the sides of the lower 

 mandible) reminds one not a little of the Hill-Mynahs. 



After I had 1 completed the present chapter, a number 

 of species of Bower-birds, Paradise-birds, and Manucodes 

 were imported by Mr. C. B. Horsbrugh, who was sent 

 out to New Guinea to that intent by Sir William Ingraan 

 and the Zoological 'Society of London. Some of these birds 

 are of considerable beauty ; and I should feel bound to 

 include them in the present work, if it were not for the 

 fact that it has been, decided ; n future to (preserve them 

 strictly, only permitting them to be captured or shot for 

 public institutions This will necessarily place them 

 entirely out of the reach of private avicullturists. 



In an article on Prince Rudolph's Bird of Paradise, 

 'Sir William Ingram observes that : '' During nearly fifty 

 years before the year 1904, only sixteen Birds of Paradise 

 had been received at the London Zoological Gardens, 

 and these only arrived one or two at a time." He then 

 goes on to mention that Mr. Walter Goodifellow, in 1904, 

 landed in Engiland two King Birds, two Paradisea 

 minor and one Paradisea apoda ; in 1905, twenty Birds 

 of Paradise were landed at Genoa : three King' Birds, 

 one Paradisea, minor and sixteen Paradisea apoda. In 

 1907, twelve pairs of King Birds and six females of 

 P. apoda were imported, and in 1908 more than fifty 

 birds were brought Ihome belonging to seven species not 

 previously imported, including one specimen of P. 

 rudolphi. 



For the reason already mentioned, I shall confine my- 



self to the mere enumeration of such species as have 

 come to hand since the ensuing chapter was written : 



BARBET-LIKE CAT-BIRD (^-Elurcedus buccoides}. 



Two examples were presented to the London 

 Zoological 'Society in 1908. 



BLACK-HEADED CAT-BIRD (JElur&dus melanocephalus). 



Three examples reached the London Zoological 

 Gardens in 1908. 



UNORNAMENTED BOWER-BIRD (Amblyornis inornata). 

 A pair was received by Mr. E. J. Brook in 1909. 



GARDENER BOWER-BIRD (Amblyornis subalaris). 



Two examples were imported m 1908, and were pre- 

 sented to the London Zoological Society. Mr. E. J, 

 Brook received a female and two males in 1909. 



MAGNIFICENT RIFLE-BIRD (Ptilorhis magnifica.) 

 One specimen was brought home in 1908. 



NEW GUINEA RIFLE-BIRD (Ptilorhis intercedens). 



One specimen also of this species in 1908 : this and a 

 young male reached the Zoological Gardens the same 

 year. 



MEYER'S BIRD OF PARADISE (Epimachus meyeri). 

 Three males and two females were received by Mr. 

 E. J. Brook in 1909. 



COUNT RAGGI'S PARADISE-BIRD (Paradisea raggiana}. 

 Several examples were imported in 1908. Twelve 

 specimens reached the London Zoological Gardens in, 

 that year. 



PRINCE RUDOLPH'S BIRD OF PARADISE (Paradisornis 

 rudolphi}. 



One example only was secured ; it was deposited at 

 the Gardens. Mr. E. J. Brook received a pair in 1909. 



MAGNIFICENT BIRD OF PARADISE (Diphyllodes 

 magnifica). 



Eight 'specimens were brought to England in 1908. 



HUNSTEIN'S BIRD OF PARADISE (Diphyllodes hunsteini). 

 Number of specimens not stated, but eighteen found 

 their way to the Gardens at Regent's Park. Mr. E. J. 

 Brook received a specimen in 1909. He also received; 

 the young of Loria marice. 



SIX-WIRED BIRD OF PARADISE (Parotia sexfilata). 

 Seven specimens were imported in 1908. 



LAWES' BIRD OF PARADISE (Parotia lawesi). 

 Number of examples not noted, fouUfourteen found a 

 home in the Gardens at Regent's Park. 



SUPERB BIRD OF PARADISE (Lophorina superba). 

 Mr. E. J. Brook received two pairs in 1909. 



PRINCESS STEPHANIE'S BIRD OF PARADISE (Astrarcfiiui 

 stephanice). 



Mr. E. J. Brook received three males and four females 

 in 1909. 



PURPLE MANUCODE (Phonygama purpureo-violacea). 



Probably five specimens came to hand ; certainly that. 



