13^ Bird -Lore 



The eggs (two or three) are beautifully and wonderfully marked, 

 ^greatly resembling those of the Regent-bird shown in the illus- 

 tration. 



During a trip towards the interior in September, 1893, I enjoyed 

 the opportunity of examining ruany play-grounds of Spotted Bower- 

 birds, and took successful photographs of some (see frontispiece). A 

 t3'pical bower may be described as being placed on the ground under 

 a clump of bushes with thistles and other vegetation growing around. 

 The floor inside and out is composed of twigs well trampled down; 

 exterior portion of the walls made of twigs placed upright, interior 

 •sides composed of yellowish grass-stalks with the seeding parts upper- 

 most. At either entrance of the bower is placed a number of bones — 

 knuckles, ribs, and vertebrae — of sheep. In one instance ninety bones 

 were counted at one entrance and ninety-two at the opposite end, 

 while inside the bower itself were twenty-four bones, besides other 

 ornamentation, such as seeds, small green branchlets, pieces of glass, 

 etc. I know of one bower at which no less than 1,320 bones were 

 counted. 



The average dimensions of those play-grounds were — diameter over 

 all, 55 inches ; length of bower or avenue, 20 inches ; width between 

 the walls, 7 inches; height of walls, 12 inches ; thickness of walls near 

 base, 6 inches. 



Of all the gorgeous birds that emblazon the sub-tropical scrubs of 

 Eastern Australia, none exceeds the beauty of the male Regent-bird 

 {S<-r/c-u///s /ni-/i>iiis) in his plumage of simple black and gold. The 

 black velvety coat is strikingly relieved with the richest of bright 

 yellow on the crown of the head, back of neck and greater part of the 

 wings. The female wears an aesthetic brownish olive mottled dress, 

 suited with dark brown eyes and bill. But the male has yellow-colored 

 •eyes and bill to match his glorious golden livery. 



During an excursion to the luxuriant scrubs of the Richmond 

 ariver district, I found Regent-birds fairly plentiful. But although, 

 well aided by a hardy companion, I prosecuted a vigorous and toil- 

 :some search through dense labyrinths of humid scrub and thorny 

 brakes of prodigal growth, while the thick foliage of the taller trees 

 caused a perpetual twilight underneath, yet I returned without dis- 

 covering its nest. It was an experience akin to seeking for the 

 proverbial needle in a hay stack. 



One evening I discovered a bower on the bare forest floor under- 

 neath thick scrub, and a male bird gaily tripping through it. The 

 structure was perfect, but not so large as those I have seen built by 

 other bower-building birds, being only 7 or 8 inches high, with walls 

 7 inches broad at the base, and an average width inside of 3^ inches. 



