Vol 



igio'^' ] Jackson, Notes on Tooth-billed Bower-Bird of N.Q. 85 



formation of the bill which gives to the Tooth-billed Bower-Bird 

 its right to that name. The accompanying life-size photograph 

 of the head of one of these birds gives a clear illustration 

 of the three saw-like indentations which are present on each 

 side in the bird's lower mandible, together with the corres- 

 ponding serrations which match them in the upper one. It 



must be understood that the serrations in the lower mandible 

 are actually in that mandible itself, but in the case of the upper 

 one they are really recessed on the sides of the hard palate or roof 

 of the bill. The points of the lower serrations fit into the recesses 

 of the upper, thus giving the bird a gripping hold and cutting 

 edges. Were it not for this fact, a bird so comparatively small 

 would not be able to sever the tough and thick stems of the larger 

 leaves which he chooses for his bower ornamentation. In the 

 plate the serrations of the upper mandible are not shown, because 

 in actual fact they are not visible in profile ; it is only when a 

 specimen is handled that one is able to turn the head into such 

 a position that they become visible. 



