158



Mr. Hubert D. Astley,



“ in the path showed me something new and surprising. I had just

“ killed a small new Marsupial that balanced itself on the stem of a

great tree, like a squirrel: and turning round, I suddenly stood

“ before me a most remarkable specimen of the industry of an animal.


“ It was a hut or bower close to a small meadow enamelled with

“ flowers.”


“ The whole was on a diminutive scale ” (compared with a

hut for human habitation). “I immediately recognized the famous

*’ nests described by the hunters of Bruijn.”


“ We had reached the height of about 4800 feet.”


“ I had now full enjoyment in the preparation of my treasure ;


“ and I gave orders to my people not to shoot many of the birds.


“ The bower I had first seen was the nearest to my halting place.


“ While I was there, neither host nor hostess was at home. I could

“ not wait for them. My hunters saw them coming and going out,


“ when they watched their movements to shoot them.”


“ The Amblyornis selects a flat even place round the trunk of

“ a small tree that is as thick as a walking stick. It begins by con-

“ structing a kind of cone chiefly of moss of the size of a man’s

“ hand, at the base of the sapling. The trunk becomes the central

“pillar; and the whole building is supported by it. On the top of

“ the central pillar, twigs are then placed methodically in a radiating

“ manner, resting on the ground, leaving an aperture for the entrance.

“ Thus is obtained a conical and very regular hut. Many other

“ branches are placed transversely in various ways to make the

“ whole quite firm and impermeable. A circular gallery is left

“ between the cone of moss and the outer walls. The whole is

“ nearly three feet in diameter.”


“ Before the cottage there is a meadow of moss. This is

“ brought to the spot and kept free from grass, stones, or anything

“ that would offend the eye. On this green tuft, flowers and fruits

“ of pretty colours are placed so as to form an elegant little garden.

“ The objects are very various, but always of vivid colour. There

“ were some fruits of a Garcinia, like a small apple. Others were

“ the fruits of Gardenias of a deep yellow colour in the interior. I

“ saw also small rosy fruits, and beautiful rosy flowers of a splendid

“ new Vaccinium ( Agapetes amblyornithis )—[named after the bird,



