^^6 Jackson, Haunts of the Spotted Bower-Bird. [^^^ q"^ 



up into a coolibah tree, and for fully lo minutes captured insects from 

 small swarms that flew from underneath a loose piece of bark. The insects 

 appeared to be the small native bees or flying-ants. The bird returned to 

 the bovver and added more twigs and grass-stems. The mate then arrived, 

 and both set to work at the play-ground until dusk. They next went to 

 the sheep-tank for a drink, and finally roosted in a coolibah tree not far 

 from the camp. 



yd October.— Y\?,\te.A No. 3 bower, to the east of the camp. No less 

 than three Bower-Birds were busy at work, and bursting with what one 

 might term "bird vanity." They divided their time between collecting 

 oddments, making noises, and dancing about admiring the result, and, 

 incidentally, showing themselves off. The icsthetic and artistic instinct 

 is evidently very strong in these quaint birds, and shows itself in their 

 devotion to the work of beautifying their bowers, whilst their vanity and 

 love of display (dancing and posturing) is no less obvious, and particularly 

 in the constant " fanlike " erection of the feathers forming the lilac-coloured 

 napes. I remained in hiding and watched them with the field-glasses, on 

 and off, from 7 a.m. to 1 1 a.m., and found the result amply repay me for the 

 trouble taken. Saw four Ground Cuckoo-Shrikes {Ptcropodocys phastanella) 

 — the first of these birds to appear. They utter a peculiar note, quite 

 different to that of any of the other species of Cuckoo-Shrikes. Visited 

 four of the nests of Pseiidogery^onc jacksoni. Two were ready for eggs, 

 and two had been pulled to pieces by some bird or beast. The birds of 

 the latter were found busily engaged rebuilding again in coolibah saplings, 

 not far from the destroyed nests. Many Pied Robins {Pctnvca picata) 

 about. 



A,th October. — Saw several eurah trees {Eremophila bignonijtora., 

 F. V. M.) to-day, from the large blossoms of which many Honey-eaters 

 feed. Mr. J. H. Doyle informed me that the natives at one time used the 

 wood of this tree for fire-making, by rapidly rotating one piece on another. 

 Came across the remains of a bower which a bush-fire had lately passed 

 over, leaving nothing save numerous bone and glass decorations and other 

 solid objects. One of the station hands working at the sheep-tank to-day 

 told me that when this bower was used by the birds he had found in it the 

 silver-plated handle of a shaving-brush. Nypang vines are starting to 

 flower, and have a delightful aroma, not unlike the garden honeysuckle. 



^th October. — This morning many birds were busily calling near camp 

 at 10 minutes past 5, and the Brown Flycatcher (ilZ/Vrar^ /^jawawj) was 

 the first whose note was heard. Investigations led me in a north-westerly 

 direction to-day. Indications of the 1902 drought were again evident 

 everywhere, and countless green trees which had been lopped of their 

 limbs for fodder, have since thrown out a vigorous growth of branches ; the 

 wilgas especially have in many cases developed into full and symmetrical 

 forms. Noticed three Grey Struthideas busily engaged building their cup- 

 shaped nest of mud, which was placed on the horizontal limb of a belah 

 tree {Castiarma /epidopJiloia, F. v. M.). Passed some large flocks of Rose- 

 breasted Cockatoos (Cacatua roseicapilla, Vieill.) feeding quietly, probably 

 on the fallen seed, on the ground under cypress pines. Spiny- cheeked 

 Honey-eaters were frequently observed extracting nectar from the long 

 yellov»fish bell-shaped flowers of the eurah trees. Noticed large silver-leaved 

 ironbark trees {Eucalyptus melauophloia^ F. v. M.) growing on sandy parts, 

 some being nearly 3 feet in diameter. Eagles' nests are often seen in them. 

 A Bower-Bird flew overhead when I was some miles to the north-west of 

 the camp, near the Goondoobluie bore drain, which passes through the 

 western end of Cambo Cambo property. 



6//; October.— \<!-^W\x\% east to-day I passed clumps of lignum bush 

 {Muehlenbeckia cumting/iami, F. v. M.) 8 feet high. Two Bower-Birds 

 were at No. 3 bower. Among articles added to the decorations were : — 



