1895.] The Birds of New Guinea. 413 
skin of this bird, he might deem it that of some small parrot, 
the thick, white, curved beak assisting that impression. The 
upper parts are a lively green, growing dark on the extremities 
of the wings and tail; a touch of blue and yellow appears 
hereand there. The head is a dull black, the throat a spotted 
black and white. Yellow is the prevailing color beneath, 
speckled with black and green. These tints cover the nape of 
the neck, the black in streaks running like so many short 
strings of beads on a yellow ground. White shows on the 
throat and side face dotted with dark spots. The tail is short 
and square. The same terms apply to the form of the bird. 
The female is of the same size and figure. 
Aeluroedus buccoides or Barbet-like cat bird of Western New 
Guinea has the spots on the throat and under parts much 
larger than those on the preceding species. The head is olive- 
brown, the wing coverts a uniform green; length ten inches. 
In Aeluroedus melanocephalus we must first notice its specific 
characteristic—the black head—in which, however, it is not 
singular, arfakianus being marked in like fashion. It has 
green wing-coverts, dark olive-brown under parts, black-tipped 
feathers on the throat, the ground color being white, the black 
running only as a narrow stripe or figure. 
Every one has heard of the Bower-bird—Chlamydera—who 
constructs a play-ground or garden of delight, adorning it 
with all sorts of attractive objects either for his own whimsi- 
cal purposes or to please his mate. The bower is some little 
distance through, perhaps thirty inches along the ground, 
and is composed of short twigs and sticks so placed as to 
form a half-roofed tunnel. Here the bird passes much of 
his time, diverts his mate by adding to their resort or by 
showing the gay material he has picked up, and in various 
ways manifests his appreciation of his own ingenious devices. 
He is a plain fellow in his own dress, though his taste is for 
the gaudy and meretricious; his size too, is small in propor- 
tion to the Castle of Indolence he rears, for this is no nest— 
this retreat of his, but a pleasure-house, a place of retirement, 
quiet amusement, or rollicking sport. His nursery is a differ- 
ent thing altogether, and is placed elsewhere. In his bower he 
