158 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



One of the best known of these bowers is that of the 

 Satin Bower-bird {Ptilonorhynchus violaceus). On either 

 side of a platform of small twigs a fence of similar 

 twigs is reared, sloping inwards to form a more or less 

 complete tunnel. At the entrance to this is placed a 

 platform of sticks, which is strewn with a miscellaneous 

 assortment of brightly coloured feathers, bleached bones, 

 and occasionally flowers. The work of construction is 

 almost entirely performed by the male : it is indeed a 

 little curious, having regard to the circumstances, that 

 the female should bear any share in its construction 

 at all. 



Really this is a more wonderful piece of architecture 

 than would appear from the mere description of its main 

 features : for it represents psychical activities which are 

 difficult to fathom. It does not take the place of display, 

 but is an extension of this. During his amorous moments 

 the cock becomes greatly excited, chasing his mate in 

 and out of the bower, carrying the while, in his beak, a 

 brightly coloured feather or a leaf. 



At the same time he sets all his feathers on end and 

 every now and then drops first one wing, then the 

 other, accompanying these actions with curious whistling 

 notes and pretences of picking up food. 



The Regent-bird (Sericulus melinus) differs conspicu- 

 ously from the Satin Bower-bird, for while this is of a 

 uniform, deep, metallic steel-blue, the Regent-bird is jet 

 black, with a golden yellow crown and hind-neck and a 

 great blaze of golden yellow on the wing. Yet the bowers 

 of the two species — which belong to different genera — 

 are practically identical, save that brightly coloured 

 berries are used more frequently by the Regent-bird. 



The Spotted Bower-birds {Chlamydodera maculata and 



