THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 281 



however, be distinguished at the first view by its deep- 

 coloured phimage, set off by clear spots and a pretty rose- 

 tinted collar. 



The couple proceed in an orderly way to build their 

 arbour. They usually set it up in an exposed place, to 

 enjoy the sun and heat bettei\ Their fii^st care is to make 

 a pavement of rounded shells of tolerably equal size; when 

 the surface and thickness of this are sufficiently forward, 

 they begin planting a little avenue of branches. For this 

 purpose they are seen bringing in from the fields fine 

 shoots of trees about the same size, the thick ends of 

 which they thrust firmly in between the interstices of the 

 pebbles. The birds arrange these branches in two parallel 

 roAvs, making them all bend one towards another, so as 

 to resemble a miniature avenue. This improvised planta- 

 tion is almost a metre (about three feet three inches) 

 long, and of such breadth that the two lovers can amuse 

 themselves, or promenade side by side beneath the shelter 

 of its shade. 



So soon as ever the arbour is finished, the amorous 

 couple think about embellishing it. For this purpose they 

 wander through the country in every direction, and ap- 

 propriate every brdliant object they meet with in order to 

 decorate the entrance. Gleaming mother-of-pearl shells 

 are special objects of predilection; hence the outlets of the 

 bower are provided with a thick shining covering of them. 



If these novel decorators find any beautiful birds' fea- 

 thers in the fields, they collect and hang them up like 

 flowers to the dry twig-ends of their abodes. One thing 

 is quite certain; every brightly coloured or shining oliject 

 on which the sun has accidentally cast its rays, is imme- 

 diately carried off". Mr. Gould even told me that, in, the 

 districts where these birds build, if a traveller chance to 



