56 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



is a case containing several of the curious Bower-building 

 Birds, the Satin Bower-bird {PtilonorTiynchus violaceus), and a 

 bower or playing-ground constructed by them. The bower is 

 composed of small sticks, twigs, <tc., stuck upright in the ground, 

 surrounded by a platform of sticks, and ornamented with land 

 shells, bones of small animals, feathers, ikc. These bowers 

 are usually constructed beneath the lower undergrowth in thickly 

 timbered mountainous parts of the country, and when near the 

 settlers' houses are often ornamented with pieces of broken 

 china, ^^lass, &.C. The bower must not be confounded with the 

 nest, which is built in the fork of a tree not far from the ground. 

 This case contains two adult males, three females, and one 

 immature male, the latter showing a mixture of the violet-black 

 and greyish-green stage of ])lumage. Close at hand is a group 

 of another species of Bower birds (GJilamijdodera cerviniventrisj, 

 the Fawn-breasted Bower bird of Cape York, and New Guinea. 

 The bower of this bird is longer, thicker, and more closely 

 constructed than that of the Satin Bower bird. This is the only 

 species of the genus Chlamydodera that has not the beautiful 

 rose-coloured frill on the nape of the neck. In the central 

 portion of the northern wing is Case No. 88, containing several 

 <Troups of birds, among which are the Eastern Bower-bird 

 (Chlamydodeva orientalis), the Rifle-bird (Ptilorhis paradisea), the 

 Re'T'ent-bird ( Sericuliis melinus), with its gay and striking con- 

 trasts of golden and velvety black plumage ; the Cat-bird 

 (Ailurcedus viridis), so called on account of its harsh and extra- 

 ordinary notes, resembling the cries of a cat ; and on the rockwork 

 at the bottom of the case is a group of Noisy Pittas (Pitta 

 strepitans). At the back of this case is another containing Prince 

 Albert's Lyre-bird {Menura alherti) adult male and female ; 

 also, the nest hidden by a projecting fern-covered bank. Midway 

 down the centre of the main hall is a large case, containing a 

 group of Cassowaries (Casuarius australis) from the dense scrubs 

 of North-eastern Queensland ; this bird almost equals the Emu 

 in size and weight of body. This is the last of the groups in 

 separate cases. 



On each side of the northern wing of the Museum are wall 

 cases, from wliich others spring at right angles at various intervals, 



