358 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



nearly succeeded. It then looks for some long and rather slen- 

 der twigs, and pushes their bases into the platform, working them 

 tightly into its substance, and giving them such an inward incli- 

 nation that, when they are fixed at opposite sides of the platform, 

 their tips cross each other and form a simple arch. As these 

 twigs are set along the platform on both sides, the bird gradually 

 makes an arched alley, extending variably both in length and 

 height. 



When the bower is completed, the reader may well ask the use 

 to which it can be put. It is not a nest, and I believe that the 

 real nest of this bird has not yet been discovered. It serves as an 

 assembly-room, in which a number of birds take their amusement. 

 Not only do the architects use it, but maijy birds of both sexes 

 resort to it, and continually run through and round it, chasing 

 one another in a very sportive fashion. 



While they are thus amusing themselves, they utter a curious, 

 deep, and rather resonant note. Indeed, my attention was first 

 attracted to the living Bower Bird by this note. One day, as I 

 was passing the great aviary in the Zoological Gardens, I was 

 startled by a note with which I was quite unacquainted, and 

 which I thought must have issued from the mouth of a parrot. 

 Presently, however, I saw a very glossy bird, of a deep purple 

 hue, running about, and occasionally uttering the sound which 

 had attracted me. Soon it was evident that this was a Bower 

 Bird engaged in building an assembly-room, and a^fter a little 

 while he became reconciled to my presence, and went on with his 

 work. He went about it in a leisurely and reflective manner, tak- 

 ing plenty of time over his work, and disdaining to hurry himself 



First he would go off to the farther end of the compartment, 

 and there inspect a quantity of twigs which had been put there 

 for his use. After contemplating them for some time, he would 

 take up a twig and then drop it as if it were too hot to hold. Per- 

 haps he would repeat this process six or seven times with the 

 same twig, and then suddenly pounce on another, weigh it once 

 or twice in his beak, and carry it off. When he reached the bow- 

 er he still kept up his leisurely character, for he would perambu- 

 late the floor for some minutes, with the twig still in his beak, 

 and then perhaps would lay it down, turn in another direction, 

 and look as if he had forgotten about it. Sooner or later, howev- 

 er, the twig was fixed, and then he would run through the bower 

 several times, utter his loud cry, and start off for another twig. 



