100 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
Nov., 1928 • 
time afterwards. On completion of nesting the birds 
return whence they came. 
Fawn-breasted Bower bird (Chlamydera cerviniven- 
tris). — This is a coastal bird and inhabits the black tea- 
tree country. It does not go inland. It is distinguished 
from, the spotted and great Bower birds, by having no 
lilac patch on the nape of the neck. The bower resembles 
those of the spotted and great Bower birds, but is small 
and does not contain shells. It has, however, green, and 
red berries and red flowers. I tried placing bits of blue 
ribbon in one bower, but the birds would have none of it, 
and as often as 1 put the bits in the bower, would take 
them out and drop them ten or fifteen feet away. I got 
tired of the game first. The nest and eggs are similar to 
those of the other bower birds. 
Great Bower bird (Chlamydera nuchalis). — This, the 
largest of the Bower birds, keeps more to inland parts, 
though it does at times visit the coast. They are very 
fond of shells for the bower, especially small sea shells, 
and I have seen numbers of them in bowers fully four 
miles from the sea, showing the birds go long distances 
to obtain suitable toys. The nest and egg are similar to 
the fawn-breasted bird, but it is only on very rare occa- 
sions more than one egg is laid. 
There are two kinds of Dragoon birds, or Bittas, on 
Cape York — Bitta simillima and Pitta macklotii. As both 
have the same habits, I am taking them together. Pitta 
simillima resembles our southern bird, while Pitta mack- 
lotii is known as the blue-breasted Pitta. They build 
bulky stick nests at the foot of a tree, and lay from three 
to four eggs. Both birds migrate to New Guinea and 
adjacent islands. If you were working the scrubs in Sep- 
tember and October, you would probably not see or hear 
a single Pitta. Then one morning early in November you 
will enter the scrub and be greeted with the notes of two 
strange birds. These notes seem to come from every 
direction, and for some while you find it hard to locate 
the birds; then, happening to look in a tree* you will see 
a. Pitta standing on a thick bough, looking very tired. 
On looking round you will observe quite a number of 
them — both kinds. They evidently arrive during the night 
and light on the trees till rested, afterwards taking to 
the ground. Though essentially a ground Bird, Pittas 
roost in trees, where I have frequently seen them, when 
working the scrubs for insects at night with a light. 
