172 ARTISTS AND ARTISANS IN THE FEATHERED WORLD. 



man only in degree and not in kind. These bowers are 

 usually placed under the shelter of the branches of some 

 tree in the most retired part of the forest ; they differ 

 considerably in size, some being larger, others much 

 smaller. The base consists of an exterior and rather 

 convex platform of sticks, firmly interwined, on the cen- 

 tre of which the bower itself is built. This is also 

 formed of sticks and twigs, but of a more slender and 

 flexible description, the tips of the twigs being so ar- 

 ranged as to curve inwards and nearly meet at the top, 

 thus forming an arbor-like gallery of uncertain length in 

 which the birds amuse themselves. They pursue each 

 other through it ; they strike attitudes to each other, the 

 males setting their feathers in the most grotesque man- 

 ner, and making as many bows as a cavalier in a minuet. 

 The architecture of the bower is exceedingly tasteful, and 

 the interest in it must decidedly be enhanced by the fact 

 that it is artistically decorated at and near the entrance 

 with the most gaily colored articles that can be collected, 

 such as bright bird -feathers, shining stones, shells, bones, 

 flowers which the birds bring from long distances in the 

 bush for this purpose, and which they even arrange anew 

 from day to day, sticking them in among the twigs or 

 strewing them around before the bower. Indeed, the 

 aesthetic tastes of our "gardener- birds" are not restricted 

 to the construction of a bower. Their fondness for 

 flowers and for gardens is still more remarkable. Di- 

 rectly in front of the entrance to their bower is a level 

 place, a real miniature meadow of soft moss, transported 

 thither, kept smooth and clean, and free from grass, 

 weeds, stones, and other objects not in harmony with its 

 design. Upon this graceful green carpet are scattered 

 flowers and fruit of different colors, in such a manner 

 that they really present the appearance of an elegant lit- 

 tle garden, so that this group of birds may be taken as 

 the representatives of a particular trade, thg,t of land- 



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