Vol. XII. 



igi2 



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



\2th November. — Bower-Birds camp companions again at daylight, 

 and mimicking every camp sound. Captured a very rare insect to- 

 night, known as Psy chop sis. 



\2,th November. — Went to No. 5 bower ; three birds were at it, but 

 found no trace of nest anywhere. Saw flock of 49 Native Companions 

 in a dry warrambool. Took nest and eggs (two) of Pied Robin from 

 a dead wilga tree. (Plate XI.) It is wonderful to note the way in 

 which the Bower-Birds can swallow lumps of sun-dried damper crusts. 



FIRST bower-bird's NEST. 



14//? November. — Saw five Ground Cuckoo-Shrikes on the ground 

 under some coolibahs. The flight is rather Hawk-like, and when 

 alighting on a limb they often topple about as if wounded. In a good- 

 sized boobialla (Myopornm acuminatum, R. Br.), on the edge of a big 

 plain, I found a new nest of the Spotted Bower-Bird containing two 

 handsome eggs, perfectly fresh. (Plate XII.) The tree had been 

 examined before, but there was no trace of a nest when last I was at 

 this part. The nest was about 11 feet up, and well exposed. The 

 Bower-Bird sat in a beef -wood {Grevillea striata, R. Br.) close by, and 

 with httle noise watched operations. Nest was the usual loose and 

 rather shallow cup-shaped structure of dead sticks and twigs, lined 

 inside with smaller sticks. The eggs could be seen through the nest 

 from the ground. This nest appeared to have been very carelessly and 

 hurriedly built, but the sticks were freshly broken at the ends, 

 and included some dead prickly sticks (which were in the foundation) 

 of the roly-poly weed (Bassia). The birds have built in a tree the 

 berries of which (now ripe) form one of its principal foods. The nest 

 belongs to the pair of Bower-Birds which have their play-ground 

 (No. i) close to my camp, and is situated about 400 yards directly 

 north-west of their bower. Walking on, I saw a mob of 14 Emus 

 on a plain towards the Goondoobluie bore drain. Saw Friar-Birds 

 {Tropidorhynchus corniculatus) attempting to capture small bright 

 blue butterflies (Ogyris hewitsoni, Waterhouse). This insect appears 

 rare here, and generally frequents the flowering mistletoe (Loranthus 

 quandang, Lindl.) on the leopard-woods (Flindersia maculosa, 

 F. V. M.~^ The latter trees are now beginning to bear their long, peculiar 

 prickly pods. These the Bower-Birds collect and place in their play- 

 grounds Took clutch of five eggs of Raven (Cor one australis) ; nest 

 up 50 feet in a tall belah tree. Mirage, resembling water in the 

 distance, again very pronounced on the plains. 



i^th November. — Up at 4 a.m. Plague of mice since yesterday. 

 Many Spiny-cheeked and Lanceolate Honey-eaters feeding from the 

 yellow blossoms of the mistletoe (Loranthus quandang, Lindl.) growing 

 on leopard-wood and native lime trees. Visited No. 2 and No. 5 

 bowers. Bower-Birds scarce to-dav, there being none even at the 

 camp. 



\6th November. — The plague of mice has mysteriously vanished- 

 White-woods (Atalaya hemiglauca, F. v. M.) now coming out into 

 pretty clusters of winged seeds. Walked some miles ; heat intense ; 

 not a single Bower-Bird seen. Saw some Emus whose condition was too 

 poor for them to run ; four fine red kangaroos were close to them. 

 Emus mostly sitting in shade of trees, with bills apart. On returning 

 to camp saw a Bower-Bird pick up the lead capsule from top of a 

 pickle bottle and take it over to No. i bower. Obliged to have meals 

 in the dark at night, owing to the myriads of pestering insects. 



