SATIN BOWER BIRD.—Ptilonorhynchvs holosr.rmus. 



carmine on the margins. The wings, chest, and abdomen are a deep warm chocolate- 

 brown, and the tail is somewhat of the same tint, but not quite dark. Over the tail 

 falls a long double tuft of loose plumy feathers of a beautiful carmine, and two long 

 black filamentous appendages also hang from the tail, and extend to a considerable 

 length. 



The large and important family of the Starlings now claims our attention. These 

 birds are seldom of great size, the common Starling of England being about an average 

 example of their dimensions. The bill of the Starling tribe is straight until near its 

 extremity, when it suddenly curves downward, and is generally armed with a slight notch. 

 The first sub-family of these birds is that which is known by the name of Ptilono- 

 rhynchinai, or Glossy Starlings, so called on account of the silken sheen of their plumage. 



The best representative of this little group is the celebrated Satin Bower Bird of 

 Australia. 



This beautiful and remarkable bird is found in many parts of New South Wales, and 

 although it is by no means uncommon, is so cautious in the concealment of its home, 

 that even the hawk-eyed natives seem never to have discovered its nest. Perhaps they 

 may be actuated by some superstitious reverence for the bird, and have therefore feigned 

 ignorance of its residence, for it is well known that the voracious native, who will eat 

 almost anything which is not poisonous and will yield to his sharp and powerfid teeth, 

 has in many portions of the country so great an awe for this bird that he will nevei: 

 kiU it. 



