88 Bower-Birds. 



breast. The young cocks much resemble the 

 hens ; in f act, the only noticeable difference is 

 that the green in their plumage is brighter. They 

 do not obtain their full adult plumage until their 

 third year. 



Among all the Society's specimens there is but 

 one cock in full adult plumage, though another 

 has nearly attained to it ; and the former is appa- 

 rently the principal bower-builder, and extremely 

 interesting it is to watch his performance. The 

 bower is made of sticks, which are cut from a 

 birch-broom and supplied to him for the purpose, 

 placed on end in the ground, and so arranged as 

 almost to form an arch about a foot in length, open 

 at both ends, and is probably, among other 

 reasons, for want of material by no means so 

 perfect a structure as those to be seen at the 

 Museum, though it is never for two days alike, one 

 peculiarity of these birds being that they are, to 

 all appearance, never satisfied with their work, as 

 they are constantly pulling it to pieces and re- 

 building it. The decoration in this case is 

 especially poor; but this is not the fault of the 

 bird, as he has made use of all the materials at his 

 command; as these consist only of a few oyster- 

 shells and suchlike odds and ends, the effect is 

 doubtless not as good as it might be if his supplies 

 were brighter and more varied. However, as 

 often as feathers or pieces of ribbon are given to 

 him the mice, which swarm in the Gardens, appro- 

 priate them, thus rendering the brightening of the 



