3 
« 
having killed the other. The young males 
closely resemble the females in plumage during 
their first year, in the second they partially 
assume the gay plumage of their sire, and in 
their third year they pu on the full livery of 
the adult male. 
Mr. Coxen exhibited a case containing the 
male and female regent bird, snd also the 
bower constructed by them ; which formed the 
subject of this paper. 
After the reading of the paper, a free and 
interesting conversation ensued amongst the 
members present, as to the general habits of 
bower birds known to exist. Mr. Kawnsley 
quite coincided with Mr. Coxen, that the 
specimen on the table was perfectly new to 
science, and stated, that when shooting on the 
Illawarra brushes, and other scrubs in New 
South Wales, he had frequently seen the bower 
of the satin bird, and had observed them when 
building their bower ; and that he had observed 
the male birds — they being the workers — steal 
feathers, and other ornamental objects, from 
the bower of their neighbour to decorate their 
own. 
It was also pointed out, that Mr. Gfould had 
shown his usual power of observation and 
knowledge of generic distinctions, in having 
placed the regent bird next in order to the 
satin bower bird, without, on his part, having 
the most remote idea or knowledge of peculiar 
s 
building instincts. Mr. Coxen was of 
opinion that there was another bird in our 
brushes that would eventually be found to 
enjoy similar habits — Ptilonorynchus Smithii, 
or cat bird. Its anatomical structure was 
generally the same as the satin bird ; and the 
natural inference was, that it possess’d 
habits in common with birds of its 
own genera. This inference, Mr. C. said, W9S 
in some measure borne out, as he had received 
information of a bird similar to that last named 
which built a peculiar kind of structure in the 
bushes some two or three feet from the grass ; 
he had not seen it himself, but could not doubt 
the correctness of the information. 
It was stated that the nests of the satin bird 
and cat bird were in high trees. Mr. Rawnsley, 
indeed, had obtained that of the last-named 
bird in a very high tree in a scrub. An ex- 
tract was read from Gfould’ s work, in which an 
account was given of a bower built by the 
satin bird when in captivity, thus proving 
beyond a doubt that these places were used 
only as a playing ground ; and it had been 
observed that the male bird would endea- 
vour to attract the attention, of the female, 
and induce her to visit the bower by calling her 
by a peculiar note, and strutting round and 
through the opening ; and would pick up a 
feather, play with it, and then either stick it on 
the side of the bower, or lay it before the en- 
trance. 
/ 
Printed by G. Wight, “ Guardian” Ofpich. 
