102 Jackson, Haunts of the Spotted Bower-Bird. [^J 



Emu 

 Oct. 



Camera cracked to-day with the heat, and fell off the tripod. Developed 

 plates, and retired at 3.20 a.m. 



nth January. — The mirage on the plains to-day was verj'' pro- 

 nounced. Five Bower-Birds at camp at 6 a.m. A Magpie, which 

 was feeding young close by, chased one away. Many birds now appear 

 to be retiring, including Red-capped Robin?, Crested Bell-Birds, 

 Spiny-cheeked Honey-eaters, Reddish-crowned Fly-eaters, &c Two 

 Bower-Birds hopped upon my camp table again this morning and 

 walked over tin plates and pannikins. Repaired broken camera. 



\2ih January. — No Cuckoos' eggs of any species found to date. 

 Cuckoos seldom seen or heard. 



13/A January. — Several Bower-Birds at camp this morning, again 

 displaying their beautiful napes, which were iridescent in the sun. 

 Took more photos Walking 10^ hours in the heat with heavy 

 camera, &c. Sunset transformed from golden yellow to pale pink. 



\/\.th January. — Saw no Bower-Birds at all to-day. Grass getting 

 green in some parts here now since the storms. 



it,th January. — Went several miles north-west in company with 

 Mr. Clyde Doyle and took some photos., including No. 9 bower. 

 The new nest in the sand-ridge belah, found some days ago and 

 belonging to the birds of No. 9 bower, was still empty ; probably the 

 birds have left it. They are very wary. Noticed several White- 

 plumed Honey-eaters (Ptilotis penicillata) drinking at the edge of 

 a clay tank on Burrenbah station which lies a little north of No. 9 

 bower. These Honey-eaters are generally found near water. Saw 

 many birds sheltering again from the heat to-day 



\6th January. — Barcoo flies worse than ever. Bower-Birds again 

 " displaying " at camp, and hopping about with drooping wings. 

 Very hot ; had six hours' walking in it. 



ijth January. — Saw Bower-Birds eating mutton fat from a can at 

 the camp fire-place. Strange birds — shy in the bush, but tame at the 

 camp. Took more photos., travelling over a lot of grovmd on foot. 

 Bowers are now all neglected. Developed and washed plates, retiring 

 at 4 a.m. 



iZth January. — ^Water in clay tank now quite green. Found a 

 goanna feeding on some coarse salt at camp this morning. Photo- 

 graphed more nests, &c., in the bush. Leopard -woods have dropped 

 all their seeds, and Crimson-winged Lories still feeding on them. 

 Noticed some young of Ground Cuckoo-Shrike. 



igth January. — No. 3 bower has been enlarged since first I found it, 

 and the grass walls measure 38 inches long, and the width of bower to 

 the outside edges of the walls was 22 inches; height of walls, 15 

 inches. I collected some of the articles of decoration from a few of 

 the bowers, including No. i bower, which was wrecked by the cyclone 

 on the 5 th inst Saw flock of six Cockatoo-Parrakeets (Calopsittacus 

 novcB-hollandice) ; not many so far. Saw three Blue-faced Honey- 

 eaters {Entomyza cyanotis). Noticed no Bower-Birds during my whole 

 day's walk. Peaches and other fruits were now ripe at the fruit 

 garden at Goondoobluie station homestead, some 8 miles east of camp, 

 and other places, and probably many of these birds had congregated 

 there to feed. Mr. Murray has some of the peach trees, &c., there, 

 bearing ripe fruit, covered with large nets in order to keep off the 



