240 Jackson, In the Barron River Valley, N.Q. [.st'^'june 



were found, all showing exactly the same conditions, and in 

 every instance only one bird being in possession of the ground ; 

 in some cases I noticed freshly broken scrub-snail shells 

 (He/t'x) scattered about the edges of the play-grounds. The 

 shape of the bird approximates to that of the Spotted Cat-Bird, 

 though smaller in size, and, of course, quite distinct in colour, 

 whilst its flight and movements are much swifter and more 

 active. When engaged in what one must indulgently suppose it 

 regards as its own especial song, the mouth is often opened to 

 almost gaping width, and the head thrown well back — a feature 

 often noticeable when the note is harsh and unmusical. Of 

 course, as the colour of the bird is of a brown hue, harmonizing 

 with the sombre shade of the scrub, it is rather difficult to pick 

 it out at times. . In my rambles to-day I only saw these birds 

 at their play-grounds, and so far none perched in trees. In the 

 morning I came across twelve more bowers or play-grounds (as 

 usual with only one bird at each), all similarly located, and 

 decorated with the same class of leaves, with three exceptions, 

 in which the wild ginger plant leaves above referred to had 

 been employed to satisfy the bird's taste. These latter measured 

 from 15 to 18 inches long by 3^ to 4}4 inches wide. In one 

 bower I found over 40 of these, and some of the other kind as 

 well. 



The more I saw of the haunts of the Tooth-billed Bower- 

 Bird the keener grew my desire to arrive at conclusions 

 deduced from evidence, and to investigate the bird's mating, 

 nesting, and breeding habits. Why, for instance, did it nearly 

 always select one class of leaf with which to carpet its play- 

 ground ? Was there any connection between this habit and the 

 tooth-like serration of the bill, which would apparently aid in 

 the severance of the leaf-stems ? For what reason was the play- 

 ground occupied by only one bird, where was its mate in the 

 meantime, and, above all, with so many birds about, where and 

 of what sort was the nest ? I felt almost certain that the birds 

 did not quit the scrub to build, for it was hardly likely that they 

 would use it as a haunt and then capriciously leave it for the 

 important event of nesting ; their regular habits argued against 

 it, and the loving care lavished on their play-grounds, the daily 

 rejection of the withered leaves and the re-carpeting with fresh 

 ones, all pointed to the bird as having strong individual charac- 

 teristics and local tastes. My task was difficult because the growth 

 in the scrub is so luxuriant, and exploration was made more 

 difficult by the dense tangle of lawyer vines {Calamus) — two 

 varieties — with recurved spines, responsible for much rending of 

 garments and exasperating abrasion of cuticle, not to mention 

 attacks of pestering insects. 



Emerging for a short , space into clearer ground, I was 

 rewarded by the sight of a splendid specimen of the Victoria Rifle- 



