OHLAMYDERA MACULATA. 



(Spotted Boioer Bird.) 



Crowjs" of tlie head, ear coverts, and throat, rich brown, each feather surrounded by a narrow Ime of black ; feathers on the crown, small and 

 tipped with silvery grey ; a beautiful band of elongated feathers of a light rose pink crosses the back of the neck ; all the upper surface, 

 wings, and tail, deep brown ; each feather of the back, rump, scapularies, wing coverts, and secondaries, tipped with a large round buff spot ; 

 primaries, slightly tipped with white ; all the tail feathers, terminated with buffy white ; under surface, greyish white ; feathers of the flanks, 

 marked with faint zigzag lines of light brown. 



The female, with the exception of the tippet, is similar to the male, but is supposed to have, when arrived at maturity, a 

 rudimentary fringe. 



Length, Hi inches ; wing, 6 ; tail, 4f ; bill, li ; tarsus, If. 



This prettily ornamented bird is found in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. It inhabits the 

 brushes bordering plains, and also the sides of low hills covered with low scrub. In these situations the singular bower which it builds may 

 occasionally be found. The structure is an archway of fine grass, with the heads nearly adjoining; this constitutes the lining and is outwardly 

 strengthened with twigs, the whole being kept securely in their places with small stones or pebbles so disposed as to form a paving to the 

 interior and some distance around, small paths leading to the bower being left bare. The front and back of the bower are similarly arranged. 

 A heap of various materials is piled together opposite each entrance, consisting of shells, small pebbles, bones of small animals, bits of broken 

 crockery, &c. The bower is repaired from year to year, and is resorted to as a playground by numerous individuals who delight in disporting 

 themselves, engaging in various curious and frantic evolutions, and in chasing one another through the avenue. The nest of this species was 

 once found by Mr. Coxen at Jondaryan ; it was cup shaped, constructed of dried sticks, and lined with fine grass and feathers. To that 

 gentleman's great regret, he was not able to describe the eggs, as the nest only contained young birds. The food of the Spotted Bower 

 Bird consists of berries, seeds, and insects. It has a harsh grating note, which is frequently the means of attracting the notice of the collector. 



CHLAMYDERA CERVINIVENTRIS. 



(Fawn- breasted B o wer Bird 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, and upper part of the back, brown, with a streak of buff down the centre of each feather ; scapularies 

 and wing coverts, brown, streaked and tipped with buffy white ; the tail coverts are greyish and similarly tipped ; primaries, secondaries, and 

 tertiaries, dull brown, the two latter, slightly tipped with dull white and edged with brownish buff; tail, brown; the feathers of the throat 

 are narrow in form and of a rusty buff margined with brown ; the rest of the under surface, light fawn color ; bill, black ; feet, greenish 

 black ; irides, hazel. 



Length, Hi inches ; wing, 5i ; tail, 5 ; bill, li ; tarsus, li. 



This new and interesting species was first discovered at Cape York by Mr. Macgillivray, naturalist on board H M.S. 

 Battlesnahe. Of all the examples which have since been obtained, none have had the lovely fringe behind the neck which adorns some of the 

 other species, hence it may be presumed that it is destitute of that ornament. The bower, which was also found by Mr. M., differs somewhat 

 from that constructed by the other species, the walls being thick, nearly upright, and the passage between very narrow. It is formed of fine 

 twigs placed upon a thick platform of thicker twigs, and is about four feet long, nearly two feet in widtli, eighteen inches in height, and is 

 decorated here and there with snail shells and berries. Its presence is usually announced by a loud churr-r-r as it starts forth alarmed at the 

 approach of th6 intruder. The bower (which Mr. M. sent home to the British Museum) was situated in a patch of low scrub about half-a- 

 mile from the beach. Specimens have also been obtained by Mr. J. Jardine, late aovernment Eesident at Cape York, who has likewise 

 secured one of the bowers, but not having had an opportunity of seeing it, I can add nothing to what has been stated by Mr. Macgillavry. 



