3/1 Jackson, Haunts of (he Spotted Bower-Bird. [^^J 



Emu 

 Oct. 



Found more huge but empty mud nests oi Corcovax. Took another 

 nest and clutch of two eggs of Pseudogerygone jacksoni ; eggs slightly 

 incubated. The nest was in coolibah sucker 5 feet up from the 

 ground. Took set of three eggs of Grey Struthidea. IBarcoo ffies 

 very troublesome. 



20th October. — Visited No. 3 bower. Additions to decorations were 

 three bleached specimens of a large brown beetle (Psalidura 

 sc/uamifera), also a large, handsome dead one belonging to the 

 Bupre?tidcs family ; also a bent galvanized rooting screw and clout- 

 headed galvanized nail, also one large green cigar-shaped pod of the 

 native .silk-pod vine (Marsdenia leichhardtiana, F. v. M.) One bird 

 flew from the bower into a dead coolibah. Found three nests of 

 Struthidea cinerea ; all contained young. Visited the nest of Bower- 

 Bird in a flowering leopard- wood tree found on i^th October, and 

 took limb and nest all complete. The nest appears to be about a 

 season old, and is in splendid condition Leaving my water-bag 

 standing on the ground to-day while I was climbing a tree, a Bower- 

 Bird flew down and ricked at the stone neck ; it may have been after 

 a drink, or wanted the stone ring (like the neck of a bottle- for its 

 play-ground. Another old nest of the Bower- Bird was observed, 

 placed 16 feet up in a small white-wood sapling {Atalaya heniiglauca, 

 F. V. M.l Several " willie willies " swept by very strongly to-day, 

 making a peculiar " whirr " as they travelled. Visited new nest of 

 Pseudogerygone jacksoni, and found it pulled to pieces. The foliage 

 of leopard trees, when full grown, is often pendulous and willow-'ike. 

 The bark on the older trees is beautifully mottled, hence the name. 

 Saw a pair of Cockatoo-Parrakeets (Cilopsittacus novcs-hollandice) 

 the first observed here. Noticed a weed plentiful on the sand-ridges, 

 or, properly speaking, sand-beds, as they only rise a few feet above 

 the surrounding country. It is known as wild spinach (Tetragonia 

 expavsa, Murr.' ; the Bower-Birds very often have the hard, spiky 

 seeds of it displayed in their play-grounds. Old residents tell me 

 that when boiled the leaves of this creeper are good eating. Found 

 nest of Noisy Miner (Myzantha garrula) in a green iron-wood {Acacia 

 excelsa, Benth.) ; clutch, three eggs. Much sheep's wool was u.sed 

 in the construction of the nest. 



21 st October. — Tramped much, country, but saw no more Bower- 

 Birds or other new bowers. Passed No. 3 bower, and the additions 

 to decorations were two brass buttons and another dead specimen 

 of Psalidura squamifera, q. The cattle have been feeding about 

 this bower again, and have walked on the edge of it, actually eating 

 some of the dead grass forming the walls. They had knocked down 

 my hurriedly put up fence Red-capped Robins {Petrceca goodenovii) 

 plentiful now. Saw nest of Black-throated Butcher-Bird (Cracticus 

 nigrigularis) with bird sitting, and placed in a beef-wood (Grevillea 

 striata, R. Br.^ Saw Crows (Corvus coronoides) feeding young on the 

 ground Friar-Birds and Yellow-throated Friar-Birds (Tropido- 

 rhynchus corniculatus and Philemon citreogularis) in evidence. Bees 

 plentiful on small flowers of broom trees (Apophylliim anomalum, F. 

 V. M.) The cunnyanna trees (Ventilago viminalis. Hook.") are in flower, 

 and covered with red beef-ants (Iridomvrmex delectus). Noticed 

 Struthideas again eating these ants The flowers of this tree have 

 a very offensive smell. Watched Bower-Birds at the various play- 

 grounds to-day, and saw one of them feeding on the small pink 

 berries growing on the boobialla {Myoporum acuminatum, R. Br.) 



