TECTONORNIS DENTIROSTRIS, Ramsay. 
Tooth-billed Bower-bird. 
Scenopceus dentirostris, Ramsay, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 591. — Id. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. ii. p. 188(1878). — Gould, 
B. New Guinea, i. pi. 43 (1880). — Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vi. p. 394 (1881). — North, Proc. Linn. 
Soc. N. S. W. (2) i. p. 1162 (1887). — Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. B. p. 11 (1888). — De Vis, Rep. Exped. 
Bellenden-Ker Range, p. 86 (1889). 
This curious Bower-bird was first described by Dr. E. Pierson Ramsay from specimens shot by Inspector 
Johnstone near Cardwell in Queensland. Unfortunately they were killed with a rifle and the skins were 
somewhat damaged, but were sufficiently intact to allow of their correct description ; and one of them was 
sent by Mr. Coxen to the late Mr. Gould, who figured it in his ‘Birds of New Guinea.’ 
The late Mr. Bowyer Bower obtained several specimens during his first expedition to North-eastern 
Australia, and a pair were presented by him to the British Museum. 
With the first discovery of the species came but little information regarding its habits, but Inspector 
Johnstone stated that, although he did not discover a * bower,’ he found that, like the Cat-birds (z Elurosdus ), 
it cleared a large space under the brushwood some nine or ten feet in diameter and ornamented the cleared 
part with tufts and little heaps of tinted leaves and young shoots. This characteristic habit, which places 
Tectonornis among the “Gardener” Bower-birds, is confirmed by that excellent observer, Mr. A. J. North, 
who writes ; — 
“ This remarkable bird is quite unlike any other genus of the family, and is found only in the dense 
brushes of the Bellenden-Ker Range, situated on the north-east coast of Queensland ; its range does not 
extend further north than the scrubs near Cooktown, nor has it been found further south than the Herbert 
River. As far as at present known, this species does not build a bower; but in lieu thereof clears a space 
in the scrub about 10 feet in diameter, and ornaments it with little heaps of bright berries and gaily 
coloured leaves and flowers, &c. Nothing is known of its nidi fication at present.” 
Mr. Broadbent, who also met with the species in the Bellenden-Ker Range, says that it is a true mountain 
bird and was procured at 4000 feet : it was not found in low scrubs, or at least very seldom. 
The name of Scenopceus being already preoccupied among theDiptera, I have proposed that of Tectonornis 
for the present species. 
Adult male. General colour above dark olive-brown, wings a little more ruddy brown than the back, quills 
dusky on the inner web ; tail olive-brown like the back ; ear-coverts dusky brown, streaked with mesial 
shaft-lines of reddish brown, the cheeks and sides of the neck similarly streaked with broader pale streaks; 
under surface of body fulvous, the feathers with broad margins of dusky brown, imparting a streaked 
appearance, less strongly marked on the abdomen ; under wing-coverts and axillaries deeper fulvous, of a 
tawny shade, slightly mottled with a few dusky edgings to the feathers ; quills dark brown below, yellowish 
along the edge of the inner web. Total length 105 inches, culmen 1T5, wing 5 *7, tail 3 ‘7, tarsus 1*3. 
Adult female. Similar to the male in colour. Total length 105 inches, culmen 1*2, wing 5*6, tail 3*95, 
tarsus 1*35. 
The figure in the Plate is taken from the type specimen lent by Dr. Ramsay to the late Mr. Gould. 
The descriptions are taken from examples in the British Museum. 
