CHAPTER V 



THE PLAYING-GROUNDS OF BIRDS 



Satin Bower-bird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus). 



The meeting-places of the Birds of Paradise— The drawing-room of 

 the Argus Pheasant— The assemblies of the Cocks of the Rock 

 — Bovver-builders — Gardeners. 



The consideration of the ornamental plumage of birds led 

 me to speak of the Lyre-birds, where I mentioned for the 

 first time a " playing-ground." This phenomenon, how- 

 ever, is not altogether so rare among birds as one might 

 have believed, and there are many species which have their 

 place for showing off, nor are they always birds of brilliant 

 appearance or decoration, for the instinct is strongest 

 perhaps in the Bower-birds (Ptilonorhynchidce), which are 

 none of them very brightly dressed. Many of the Birds of 



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