Vol. XII 

 1912 



] Jackson, Haunts of the Spotted Bower-Bird. 67 



The walls of this bower were nearly 15 inches high. At the time only two 

 birds appeared to frequent it. 



20th September. — The Spotted Bower-Birds were about the camp at 

 daylight this morning, and appeared very tame. When away from their 

 play-ground and my camp, and in the bush, these birds appeared extremely 

 shy, and it was really most difficult to get near them ; but in contrast to 

 this they would calmly and fearlessly hop and feed about within 5 or 6 feet 

 of me as I sat at the front of my tent writing my notes or having my 

 meals. They also become tame about a bush homestead, and even enter 

 the kitchens ; yet out in the bush they are just the reverse — shy and wary. 



2isi September. — Two Spotted Bower-Birds at camp again this morning 

 at daylight. Sometimes they had a peculiar habit of stretching their necks 

 when they looked down from a tree near the bower or my camp, and thus 

 assumed quite a stiff and rather lengthened appearance. The flight of 

 these birds, though fairly rapid, appears at times somewhat flappy and 

 laboured, the wings every now and then being closed against the body. 

 The flight usually consists of a succession of long wavelike swoops, and it is 

 when the bird rises to these that the wings close, and the few flaps take 

 place on the fall after each rise. When on the wing the birds generally 

 travel in a very straight line, and seldom divert to the left or right, but keep 

 straight ahead for the spot for which they are making. They are very 

 difficult birds to follow (especially where timber is thick) owing to their 

 direct flight, and they are often soon lost to view. They are not high 

 fliers, and frequently keep just a little above the tree-tops. When the birds 

 were down drinking at the sheep-tank at the camp or the Moonie River, 

 repeated attempts were made to follow them immediately they left, and this 

 was done with the view and hope of thus being led to the nest, if such 

 existed. These efforts, however, were fruitless, and in each case the bird 

 was soon lost, as its quick, straight flight and dull-coloured plumage all 

 contributed to its swift vanishing over trees or in the mirage dancing on the 

 distant plain. When anyone is about the Spotted Bower-Bird has a decided 

 liking to fly up into a dead and absolutely leafless tree ; probably this is 

 because a clear view of the surroundings can be obtained from such a 

 position better than would be the case from a green or well-foliaged tree. 

 When it came to nest-building, however, the birds always were found to 

 choose a green tree, so I recorded the conclusion that it was a case of dead 

 and leafless trees for " look-out," and green trees for nest-building. When 

 flying from their play-grounds, a branch of a dead tree was usually selected 

 to perch upon — very seldom did they fly from the play-ground direct to a 

 green tree ; that, however, it must be understood, is apart from the green 

 tree or bush under which the bower may have been built, as they often hop 

 up from the bower and into this tree befoi"e they make their flight. Careful 

 observations led me to note, in all the cases that came under my notice 

 during the whole trip, they have one particular branch of a dead tree upon 

 which they fly when leaving the bower. Strange to say, the birds were 

 seldom seen out in the bush, and it behoved me to follow them every chance 

 I got. The proper or regular note of these birds is a harsh guttural sound, 

 closely resembling that produced by the Satin Bower-Bird (Ftiloiior]iy?ichus 

 violaceus)^ the Regent Bower-Bird {Scriculies chrysowphahts), and others 

 of the family. 



The Spotted Bower-Birds frequently uttered a deep frog-like croak while 

 feeding about and chasing one another in front of my camp, and when thus 

 engaged they have a queer habit of hopping sideways rather than straight 

 ahead. The two Bower-Birds which were constantly near my camp usually 

 flew straight from my tent over to their play-ground, and sometimes they 

 would flap away heavily loaded with a large lump of dry damper, crust, or 

 else fly oft" quietly with some light article filched for the purpose of 

 decorating the play-ground. Anything bright had to be kept in a box away 



