Bower-Birds. 89 



structure of the bower almost an impossibility. 

 His ornaments, such as they are, are arranged on 

 the ground at each entrance, and apparently afford 

 him great delight, as he is constantly moving and 

 rearranging them. Whenever the bower has been 

 satisfactorily arranged, the cock politely invites 

 one of the hens to enter, which she does and squats 

 down, and then begins a most amusing perform- 

 ance, as he erects his feathers and dances round 

 the bower w4th most ludicrous bows and contor- 

 tions, occasionally picking up a shell or other 

 ornament, and carrying it round.in his bill, and this 

 exercise he continues for some time. The habit of 

 destroying and rebuilding the bower is, from the 

 visitor's point of view, particularly annoying, as it 

 is most disappointing on paying a visit to the birds 

 to find that they are simply, after their usual 

 manner, flying backwards and forwards through 

 their cage, apparently intent on obtaining as much 

 exercise as possible, and with no more idea of 

 bower-building and decoration than have their 

 unsesthetic fellow-lodgers, the Hill Mynahs. 

 When seen in their builders' native country these 

 bird-built bowers must be very beautiful. That of 

 the Spotted Bower-bird has been described as 

 " beautifully lined with tall grasses, so disposed 

 that the heads nearly meet, and the decorations are 

 very profuse." while that of the Regent-bird is 

 said to be ornamented with " berries of various 

 colours, blue, red, and black, which give it when 

 fresh a very pretty appearance. Besides these, 



