84 JACKSON, Notes 071 Tooth-bUled Bower-Bird of N.Q. [^J 



Emu 

 Oct. 



insects, amongst which the larger remains of the following ten 

 families of Coleoptera were distinguishable on careful analysis of 

 the excreta : — Chrysomelidce (thorax, elytron, legs) ; ElateridcB 

 (one large thorax, legs) ; CarabidcB (thorax, legs, wings) ; Staphy- 

 linidcB (portion of body) ; Cleridce (three thoraces and elytra) ; 

 CeramhycidcB (part of body, elytra) ; ScarabceidcE (portion of 

 elytron, legs) ; Curculionidce (thorax, elytra, legs) ; For/iculidce 

 (tail end of body) ; MalacodermidcB (portion of elytron). In 

 addition to these, there were also broken antennae and numerous 

 small portions impossible to identify. The Tooth-bill, therefore, 

 as an insect, snail, seed, and fruit eater, has a wide and liberal 

 taste. 



Leaves used in Play-ground Decorations. — Turning from the 

 subject of food to the strikingly marked decorative habit of the 

 bird, I wish to place on record some further details as to the singular 

 consistency which he displays, not only in the choice of the leaves 

 with which he decorates his play-ground, but in his method of 

 usmg them. The play-grounds on the scrub-covered hill across the 

 Barron River from our camp were especially typical. They were 

 usually very neatly laid out under arching masses of the exasper- 

 ating lawyer-palm vines {Calamus moti and C. australis), and con- 

 sequently not too easy to examine. Just one word about these 

 vines. Most people know the lawyer-vine, but a lawyer-palm 

 vine may be an unfamiliar name. Nevertheless, the term is a 

 correct one — the vine is both vine and palm, and is classified as 

 belonging to the family Palmce. Being a Calamus, it has very 

 long, sharply-hooked tendrils, and also carries long, palm-like 

 leaves (especially Calamus moti), which are studded on the under 

 side with formidable spines or thorns. Possibly the Tooth-bill's 

 frequent choice of this thorny retreat follows an instinct for 

 secluded security. The leaves chiefly used by these birds here 

 were those of Cryptocarya mackinnoniana, and another known 

 as Litsea dealbata, already referred to in my previous article 

 {vide Emu, June, 1909, pp. 236, 237, 250, 258, 260, 266, and 282). 

 Since writing the first general article on the subject of the Tooth- 

 bill, I have been able to devote attention to the large collec- 

 tion of leaves gathered by myself from the numerous play- 

 grounds examined. An old play-ground, or one that had been 

 in use for some weeks, was easily distinguished by the great 

 number of curled and dried leaves outside its area, which the bird 

 had replaced by fresh ones of the same species in his zeal for perfect 

 decoration. This was his daily practice, and, of course, the absence 

 of the rejected " furnishing " meant that the tenancy of the play- 

 ground had only just begun. Outside these new play-grounds I 

 very seldom found the broken remains of snail-shells. During my 

 stay in this district I found and examined no fewer than 193 

 play-grounds kept in absolutely perfect order. If the number 

 were to include all that were found, good, bad, or indifferent, it 

 would be somewhere nearer 250. 



I think that some information is needed as to the particular 



