22 White, Lilac Nape-band on Female Bower-Birds. [i^t^'jui. 



Lilac Nape-band on Female Bower-Birds 



(Chlamydodera). 



By H. L. White, R.A.O.U., Belltrees, N.S.W. 



With the single exception in Mr. F. L. Whitlock's notes upon 

 Chlamydodera guttata {Emu, vol. ix., pp. 212-219), I have noticed 

 no reference to the fact that the female Bower-Bird is sometimes 

 found bearing the lilac neck-band. Gould (-'Birds of Australia," 

 vol. i., p. 452) appeared to be in doubt upon the subject, but was 

 near the mark when he suggested that the band may possibly be 

 acquired by old birds. 



Hall, in his " Key to the Birds of Australia." states (page 22) 

 that the female of C. maculata has no lilac band. 



North ("Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia 

 and Tasmania") describes the females of C. maculata (vol. i., p. 

 41), C. guttata (p. 48), and C. orientalis (p. 55) as having no lilac 

 bands. 



From various parts of Eastern Australia I have lately received 

 skins cf Chlamydodera maculata on which the lilac band shows 

 plainly on some adult females. One of my collectors took the 

 trouble to preserve in spirits a female body showing the lilac 

 band and take same to Sydney, where it was dissected in the 

 presence of a well-known member of the R.A.O.U. The collector 

 in question states that about 40 per cent, of the females he skinned 

 carried the lilac band. Mr. H. G. Barnard recently forwarded 

 three skins of this species from the Dawson River, Queensland, 

 two of which (females) show the coloured band, one being indistinct, 

 the other almost as brightly coloured as en a male. Mr. F. L. 

 Whitlock, in his article referred to above, clearly proves that old 

 females of C. guttata are to be found with a distinct band ; I have 

 one such skin in my collection. 



Mr. H. G. Barnard, while collecting for me at Cape York, in 

 1910, forwarded a skin of a female C. orientalis which shows a 

 single pink feather at the back of the neck. In view of the 

 experiences of these collectors, and after examining the skins 

 forwarded by them, all of which were secured during the breeding 

 season, I am of opinion that females of C. maculata, C. guttata, 

 and C. orientalis, when fully matured and breeding, sometimes 

 assume the lilac neck-band. 



Metallic Starlings (Calornis). 



By E. J. Banfield, R.A.O.U., Dunk Island (N.Q.) 



Since the Metallic Starlings " are making them ready to fly," it 

 is meet that one to whom their presence during seven months has 

 given pleasure and food for reflection should speed them on their 

 equatorial journey, and assure them of cordial greetings when 

 they return next August as heralds and emblems of the reinvigora- 

 tion of the sun. These lively, cheerful, self-important, squealingly 



