THE CAT-BIRD 415 



The bower is quite rudimentary. The bird merely scratches 

 the dead leaves and rubbish off a piece of ground measuring 

 about three feet by two feet, on which it places a few green 

 leaves, with their lighter-green undersurfaces upwards. These 

 are spaced at about equal distances apart on the ground. There 

 are no berries, shells, feathers or ornaments other than the green 

 leaves, which, however, are always fresh and seem to be picked 

 daily. The place chosen is generally under a bush or overhanging 

 vegetation and the birds seem to be fond of frequenting their 

 ground, uttering their clear liquid notes. Where a bird is heard 

 warbling in the thicket you will most likely find a plaj'ing 

 ground. These birds are wonderful mimics. Their shallow stick 

 nest is placed near the top of some scrub tree, in a thick bunch 

 of vegetation, and usually invisible from the ground. The two 

 eggs are a greenish cream-colour, and measure 1.57 x 1.8 inch. 

 They are very similar to those of a cat-bird. 



Genus JElurwdus. 

 Bill higher than broad at the nostrils, with a lateral sub- 

 terminal notch, very stout. Nostrils not completely hidden, but 

 overhung by scanty plumes. 



The Cat-bird. 



JElurcedus viridis. 



North-east Queensland and Eastern New South Wales. 



Head and back of neck olive-green, with a narrow line of white 

 down each side of the feathers of the latter; hack, wings and tail grass- 

 green with a tinge of blue on the margins of the back feathers; all but 

 the two centre feathers of the tail tipped with white; under surfaces 

 yellowish-green, with a yellowish mark down the centre of each feather. 



The habits of the Cat-birds are very similar to those of the 

 Satin Birds, with the important exception that, as far as 

 is known, they do not construct even a rudimentary bower; 

 and they have the same haunts. The name is derived 

 from the cry. Gould says: "In comparing it to the 

 nightly concerts of the domestic eat, I conceive that I am con- 

 veying to my readers a more perfect idea of the note of this 



