RAVENS. 239 



THE SATIN LOWER BIRD. 

 The Satin Bower Bird (Ptilonorhynchus holosericus), a recently-discovered inhabitant of 

 Australia, is a very celebrated member of this family. The body of this species is powerful, the wings 

 rounded at the tip ; the tail of moderate size, and cut straight at its extremity ; the tarsi are high, 

 slender, and the toes short. The beak is strongly formed, the upper mandible arched at the tip over 

 the lower portion, which is also slightly bent. The adult male is truly a splendid creature, with rich 

 satin-like plumage of a deep blue black ; the primary quills and the secondaries are of velvety black- 

 ness, tipped with blue, as are also the wing and tail feathers ; the iris light blue, surrounded by a 

 narrow red ring ; the beak is blueish grey, tipped with yellow, and the feet red. The female is green 

 upon the upper parts of the body, and underneath of a yellowish green ; the feathers are spotted here 

 and there with brown crescent-shaped spots, that give a scale-like appearance to the lower portion of 

 the bird ; the wings and tail are deep yellowish brown. The young resemble the mother. 



Gould has made us familiar with the curious habits of the Satin Birds, whose favourite haunts are 

 found amidst the thickly-foliaged " bush " of Australia, and here they may be seen living in pairs 

 throughout the greater part of the year, only quitting their favourite locality when tempted to short 

 distances by the hope of obtaining some particular kind of food. In autumn they usually congregate 

 in small flocks, and seek a home among the bushes that grow upon the banks of neighbouring rivers. 

 Insects sometimes form a portion of their diet ; they, however, prefer fruits and grain, and are fond of 

 robbing the gigantic fig-trees of their tempting burden. When engaged in eating, these birds are so 

 extremely shy and cautious as to render their capture almost impossible. One of the oldest members 

 of the party is usually found perched upon the highest branch of some neighbouring tree for the pur- 

 pose of warning his companions of approaching danger : this he does by a peculiar clear note, which 

 — should the sentinel become excited — is followed by a harsh, guttural cry. Their bowers have been 

 described by the author from whom we quote as most peculiar and beautiful in their construction. 

 From observations made by himself, he tells us that these remarkable erections are generally placed 

 upon the ground, under the shelter of an overhanging tree or bush, in some quiet and retired place, 

 and vary considerably in their size. The walls are strongly formed of twigs and small branches woven 

 together in such a manner as to bring the ends in contact at the top. An opening is left to form an 

 entrance at both extremities of this strange arbour, which is decked with every gay or shining material 

 that the little architects can procure ; snail or mussel shells, pebbles, or white bones are laid as orna- 

 ments to grace the entrances, and Parrot-feathers or brightly-coloured rags are stuck between the twigs ; 

 indeed, so well do the natives know the passion of the Satin Bird for glittering or polished objects, 

 that should they lose anything of that description, they at once endeavour to discover the bower 

 that has been beautified at the expense of their property. Gould mentions having found a pretty 

 pebble an inch and a half long lying within one of these edifices, which was also decked with a variety 

 of blue woollen scraps that had, doubtless, been stolen from a settlement in the vicinity. Males and 

 females alike resort to these bowers, solely, as it would appear, to disport themselves in very much the 

 same manner as we do in a ball-room, dancing and turning about with the greatest spirit and liveliness, 

 or chasing each other up and down their gay apartment in an untiring whirl of sportive delight. Should 

 a female lose her mate, she at once consoles herself with another ; and we have known an instance in 

 which one of them was deprived of no less than three successive mates, without deterring her from 

 participating in the gambols of the rest of the party. The males principally undertake the actual 

 labours of constructing the gala chamber, whilst all the more delicate work of beautifying the interior 

 devolves entirely upon the females ; the nests are said to be built at no great distance from the 

 bower; but the eggs, as far as we know, have never been found. A pair of Satin Birds were 



