OTHEE THEORIES OF SEXUAL COLOURING 321 



'the best evidence ... of a taste for the beautiful,' 

 because of the confirmation which has been afforded 

 by some more recent observations upon a New Guinea 

 Bower -bird. 



All the aesthetic taste of this bird appears to be 

 concentrated on the bower and its surroundings, for 

 the bird itself is, as its name (Amblyornis inornata) 

 implies, very plainly coloured. It is called the 

 Gardener Bower-bird, because of its remarkable 

 habits, and its native name also means ' the gardener.' 

 The bower and adjacent ' small meadow enamelled 

 with flowers ' were seen by the Italian traveller, Dr. 

 Beccari, 1 on Mount Arfak, in New Guinea. He states 

 that the Amblyornis chooses a flat surface at the base 

 of a small tree, against which, as a central pillar, it 

 builds a very regular conical hut, with an opening at 

 one point. The hut, which is nearly three feet in 

 diameter at the base, is formed of the twigs of an 

 orchid, which, being an epiphyte, bears fresh leaves 

 for a very long time, and greatly adds to the beauty of 

 the bower. Within the hut a small cone of moss, about 

 the size of one's hand, is heaped round the base of 

 the tree. 'Before the cottage there is a meadow, of 

 moss. This is brought to the spot and kept free 

 from grass, stones, or anything which would offend 



1 An abstract of Dr. Beccari's description appeared in The Gar- 

 deners' Chronicle, March 16, 1878, with a figure of the bower re- 

 produced from a painting made on the spot. This article is quoted 

 in Gould's Birds of New Guinea, vol. i., which also contains a 

 coloured plate founded upon the above-mentioned figure. 



