Mr. J. Gould on a new Species of Bower-bird. 429 



Figs. 5a-od. Transverse sections of the same specimen, showing the ar- 

 rangement of the septa at different stages of growth. 



Figs. 6-6 c. Transverse section* of Zapkrentis patula, Mich., at different 

 points, showing the dissepiments, secondary septa, and mode of 

 formation of the fossula. 



Fig. 7. Transverse section of Zaphrentis Guerangeri, E. & II., showing 

 how the fossnla is formed by the folding and coalescence of a 

 certain number of the septa ; 7 a, longitudinal section of the 

 same, showing the arrangement of the tabulae. 



[To be continued.] 



LVIII. — Oil the Bower-birds of Australia , with the Descrip- 

 tion of a new Species. By John Gould, F.R.S. 



Of all the acts performed by birds, that of building themselves 

 beautiful bowers, variously decorated with shells, bleached 

 bones, glittering stones, and gaudily coloured feathers, must 

 ever be ranked amongst the most interesting traits in con- 

 nexion with ornithology. At present the only known country 

 in which these playing-places or halls of assembly are con- 

 structed is Australia. Whoever may have the good fortune 

 to lift up the curtain which separates New Guinea from other 

 countries, may probably find others. 



Ghlamydodera occipitalis, n. sp. 



In size a trifle larger than C. maadata, and in its general 

 aspect and spotted upper surface very similar ; and, like that, 

 the present new bird has the usual occipital mark of lilac 

 feathers, except that it is twice as large and more beautiful 

 in colour, especially when seen from beneath. I have for 

 many years had two females in my collection, which differ 

 from the females of G. nuchalis, so common on the river-banks 

 of Mokai Guyder and other parts of the interior of New South 

 Wales ; but it is only lately that I have received the male. 

 That I ought to be an authority on the different species of the 

 Bower-birds is evidenced by my having lived among them, 

 studied their habits, and given double-sized plates of the 

 bowers of two of the species in my folio edition 5 but never 

 in all my encounters with the Ghlamydodera metadata (and 

 they were many) have I seen any thing like the bird under 

 consideration. In giving North Queensland as the habitat 

 of this species, it must be taken in a general sense ; for the 

 precise locality is unknown to me ; and I await fresh infor- 

 mation with interest and anxiety. 



