CHLAMYDODERA CERVINIVENTRIS. 



BUFF-BREASTED BOWER-BIRD. 



CHLAMYDERA CERVINIVENTRIS, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1850) p. 201.— Id. B. of Austr. Supp. vol. i. pi.— G. R. Gray, Hand-1. Birds, 

 pt. i. (1869) p. 294. sp. 4342. 



CHLAMYDODERA CERVINIVENTRIS, Gould, Hand-b. Birds Austr. (1865) vol. i. p. 454. 

 Hab. Cape York, Australia (Macgillivray). 



Me. Macgillivray was the discoverer of the present species, which is remarkable among the Bower-birds from 

 the fact of the males never having the lilaceous mark upon the nape of the neck which is witnessed in those 

 of all the others. "Its bower," says Mr. Gould, "differs from those of the other species — its walls, which 

 are very thick, being nearly upright or but little inclining towards each other at the top, so that the passage 

 through is very narrow ; it is formed of fine twigs, is placed on a very thick platform of thicker twigs, is 

 nearly four feet in length and almost as much in breadth, and has here and there a small snail-shell or berry 

 dropped in as a decoration." Mr. Macgillivray's account of the discovery of the species as related by him in 

 his 'Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake' is as follows: — "Two days before we left Cape York, I 

 was told that some Bower-birds had been seen in a thicket or patch of low scrub half a mile from the beach; 

 and after a long search I found a recently constructed bower, four feet long and eighteen inches high, with 

 some fresh berries lying upon it. The bower was situated near the border of the thicket, the bushes composing 

 which were seldom more than ten feet high, growing in smooth sandy soil without grass. 



" Next morning I was landed before daylight, and proceeded to the place in company with Paida, taking with 

 us a large board on which to carry off the bower as a specimen. I had great difficulty in inducing my friend to 

 accompany me, as he was afraid of a war party of Gomokudins, which tribe had lately given notice that they were 

 coming to fight the Evans-Bay people. However, I promised to protect him, and loaded one barrel with ball, 

 which gave him increased confidence ; but he insisted upon carrying a large bundle of spears and a thro wing-stick. 



" While watching in the scrub, I caught several glimpses of the tewing a (its native name) as it darted through 

 the bushes in the neighbourhood of the bower, announcing its presence by an occasional loud c/mrr-r-r, and 

 imitating the notes of various other birds, especially the Tropidorhynchus. I never before met with a more wary 

 bird ; and for a long time it enticed me to follow it to a short distance ; then flying off and alighting on the 

 bower it would deposit a berry or two, run through, and be off again before I could reach the spot. All this 

 time it was impossible to get a shot. At length, just as my patience was becoming exhausted, I saw the bird 

 enter the bower and disappear, when I fired at random through the twigs, fortunately with effect. So closely 

 had we concealed ourselves latterly, and so silent had we been, that a Kangaroo while feeding actually hopped 

 up within fifteen yards, unconscious of our presence until fired at." 



Top of head brownish grey, forehead dotted with white ; back, wings, and tail dark brown, each feather of the 

 back having a white spot in the centre at the tip ; edges of primaries and secondaries whitish. Throat and upper 

 part of breast dark grey, streaked with light rufous. Rest of underparts rich buff. Bill, legs, and feet black. 



