the Satin Bower-bird. 351 



by tlie size of the birds when I bought them and the slight, 

 though perfectly noticeable, increase of size during the year 

 in which tiiey emerged from their nestling dress, I am more 

 inclined to believe that the adult feathering is perfected by 

 the end of the second year. 



If Mr. Le Sonet's view were correct, my cock bird ought 

 tt) have died in 1901 or 1902, yet we are well advanced in 

 1905, and he shows not the least symptom of failing vigour ; 

 but, how about the hen? 



In the years 1901-4 the cock bird frequently picked up 

 sticks and straws and pursued the hen, singing vigorously 

 and going through all the comical contortions and wing- 

 fliippings, side-jumps and dances, peculiar to the species; 

 occasionally the hen would chase the cock, with very similar 

 actions and song : but the aviary in which I kept the pair was 

 too small for them to make up their minds to serious nest- 

 building, although they made several attempts to construct a 

 bower by driving twigs into the earth in two rows converging 

 at the top. 



In 1901: the cock bird began to render the life of the hen 

 unpleasant by frequently pulling out her flight-feathers. 

 After pursuing her for a time, if he succeeded in catching 

 her upon the earth, she would immediately turn upon her back 

 and oppose him with beak and claws : he would then lie on 

 liis side close to her ; and as she turned each would grasp the 

 other's claws and pluck viciously at the wings and breast. I 

 never knew any other bird to fight in this curious fashion. 



In the present year the tables were completely turned, the 

 hen had perfect nifistery over the cock, and plucked every 

 feather out of his wings and tail, so that I had to cage him up 

 to preserve his life, as the constant drain on his strength was 

 beginning to make him weak on his legs. In July the hen 

 began to assume male plumage, which is rapidly developing ; 

 the median and greater coverts are already black, forming a 

 broad belt across the wings, and the underparts are splashed 

 with black blotches. It will not surprise me if this bird dies 

 within the next year or two, but the cock shows no indications 

 of impending dissolution. 



The difference in plumage between nestling and adult birds 

 is much greater than Gould's description would lead one to 

 suppose, the under surface not only being yellower, but 

 having a distinctly pale-spotted character, owing, perhaps, 

 to greater width and diffusion of the crescentic markings on 

 the feathers ; moreover, this difference is not confined to the 

 males, but is, I believe, found in all young birds : I have 

 vxamiued ciftht or nine at various times. 



