THE bower-bird's BOWER. 
No example of bird architecture is more in- 
' teresting than the remarkable fabric constructed 
by the Ptilorhynchus Itolosericeus of Australia, 
which has therefore received the name of the 
bower-bird. And what is most curious about it is, 
that the bird apparently does not build it for pur- 
poses of shelter, or to receive the eggs of the female, 
but absolutely and entirely for amusement. In this 
respect it advances far beyond the capacities of the 
Vy^pl^ ^ aborigines of the land which it inhabits. The Australian 
natives have but little idea of entertaining themselves, 
and none of building a special place for that entertainment. 
. / ' But here we have a bird building and decorating: a bower 
,j or saloon or ball-room, with no other object, so far as we 
can discover, than that of securing an appropriate arena for the display 
of its saltatorial powers ! 
The bower-bird, it should be premised, belongs to the glossy star- 
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