BIBDS. 



BOWER-BIRDS. 



(May 25, 1889.) 



AN extremely interesting and amusing sight is 

 provided for visitors to the Zoo during the present 

 warm spring weather by the bower-birds confined 

 in the first compartment of the Western Aviary, as 

 they are busy about their bower, the peculiar 

 structure from which they take their name. 



The bower-birds belong to a group of Australian 

 birds, which also includes the cat-birds and 

 regent-birds, famous for their peculiar habit of 

 constructing on the ground a bower of sticks 

 and other substances, not as a nesting place, 

 but simply for purposes of love-making and play, 

 their nests being built in trees. These bowers are 

 most peculiar structures; and, though differing 

 both in construction and decoration according to 

 the species of the architect, have very much in 

 common. Little was known of the habits of 

 bower-birds until Mr. G-ould published his work on 

 the Birds of Australia, and that famous ornitholo- 

 gist not only gave to the world an excellent 



