94 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



sary, removes the grass for a pathway, about four 

 inches wide, and from two to three feet in length. 

 Over this it weaves together the top of the grass from 

 both sides, and then, from far and near, it brings small 

 bones which it finds bleached white on the plains, bits 

 of colored glass, pieces of red flannel, if it can find 

 them anywhere. 



With the bones, colored glass, bright pebbles, and 

 other things of that kind it will pave the pathway 

 through the bower, while the red flannel, bits of tin, 

 or bright feathers which have fallen from some of the 

 prettier birds, it will weave into the grass above the 

 bower. 



Naturalists were puzzled for some time respecting 

 the bird's object, but all are now satisfied, I think, 

 that the only object is to afford pleasure for himself 

 and his companions. They have been seen chasing 

 each other through and through the bower, appar- 

 ently thoroughly enjoying their fun. 



THE BRUSH-TURKEY. 



The habits of the brush-turkey are quite as inter- 

 esting as those of any I have described. Several of 

 these birds will join together in building up a mound 

 of grass or vegetable matter of any kind, in which 

 they will perhaps a half dozen of them deposit 



