SOUTH AND CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 201 



inside. It has the impression that might is right, 

 as it steals piecemeal, or as a whole, a nest of the 

 Babbler or Miner. It may even add to it while 

 under construction by the rightful owner. It has 

 two families in the season. 



BOWER-BUILDING BIRDS 



The Cat Bird and the Regent Bird of the tropical 

 coastal scrubs of New South Wales and Queens- 

 land are included in the bower builders. The Satin 

 Bird is found in the Otway Forest, having extended 

 westward from the extra tropical coastal land. 



Several species of bower birds are found in the 

 dry interior and the northern fringes if it. Among 

 these are the two shown in map 87, a, b. The lead- 

 ing characteristics of the family are the playground 

 and beautifully marked eggs. Among the pines 

 and bullokes, or beneath a bursaria bush, there may 

 be placed on the ground a structure of twigs. 



This would be quite two feet in length, with 

 heaps of bones and coloured things at the ends. 

 Quondong berries and bright feathers would be 

 conspicuous. As many as a thousand bones have 

 been accumulated. 



Each time a bird comes to play it brings a shell 

 or other thing. Some land shells are most con- 

 spicuous. They enjoy the play each morning just 

 as other birds enjoy their less attractive games. It 

 has become a pass time in a fixed place, and in a 

 building made by themselves for the purpose. 



