THE SPOTTED BOWEK-BIRD 41 7 



The Spotted Cat-bird. 



JEluraedus maculosus. 



North-east Queensland. 



Differs from preceding in having the crown of the head dull brown 

 mottled, and the ear-coverts black, not green. 



Cat-birds build bulky open nests, usually not far frora the 

 ground, and lay two (rarely three) cream-coloured eggs, 

 which measure about 1.73 x 1.22 inch. 



Genus Chlamydodera. 

 Bill longer and thinner than in the Cat-birds, with a lateral 

 subterminal notch. Nostrils not completely hidden. 



The Spotted Bower-bird. 



Chlamydodera macidata. 



Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. 



Crown of head, ear-coverts and throat rich brown, each feather with 

 a narrow rim of black; a beautiful lilac band of elongated feathers 

 crosses the back of the neck forming a broad occipital crest; rest of 

 upper surfaces, wings and tail of a rich, brown, the feathers mostly 

 tipped with a round spot of rich buffi; under surfaces greyish white. A 

 patch of pink fleshy bare skin at the corner of the mouth. The femal« 

 does not possess the lilac nape band. Total length 11.2.5 inches, bill 

 1.25, wing 6, tail 4.75, tarsus 1.62. 



The bowers "are considerably longer and more avenue-like 

 than those of the Satin Bower-bird, being in many cases three 

 feet in length. They are outwardly built of twigs, and beauti- 

 fully lined with tall grasses so disposed that their heads nearly 

 meet; the decorations are very profuse, and consist of bivalve 

 shells, crania of small mammals and other bones bleached by 

 exposure to the rays of the sun or from the camp fires of the 

 natives. Evident indications of high instinct are manifest 

 throughout the whole of the bower and decorations, particularly 

 in the manner in which the stones are placed within the bower, 

 apparently to keep the grasses with which it is lined fixed firmly 

 in their places; these stones diverge from the mouth of the run 

 on each side so as to form little paths, while the immense collec- 

 tion of decorative materials is placed in a heap before the 



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