82 
The Queensland Naturalist, 
April, 1922 
the possibility of the species not nesting here, and the 
puzzle is increased when that too common individual,, 
found in every district, who is always on the look-out for 
young birds to cage, seems never to have his stock 
augmented with young Bower-birds. 
During nearly twenty-five years' residence in these 
districts, and in spite of being at all times on the qui vive r 
I have only seen three Bower-birds’ nests, and even now 
have not seen the eggs in situ , as each of the three homes 
1 refer to contained two little ones. In thinking over the 
positions and localities of these three nests, I get no guide 
to assist me in locating other homes. Each was built in 
a widely divergent place. 
The first I saw was in an orange-tree not more than 
ten yards from the front veranda of the Saltern Creek 
(Barcaldine district) homestead. That was about sixteen 
years ago. The next was a quarter of a mile or so from 
a settler’s house in this district (Blackall), and lodged 
in the top of a bauliinia sapling in a most exposed 
position, about fifteen feet from the ground. The last 
one I found during September, 1921, miles away from any 
habitation, and tucked away in the shelter and protection 
of a thick native creeper, entwined into a “dead finish” 
bush. It was this nest that enabled me to frame these 
notes, and that formed the subject from which I was 
able to obtain some photographs. 
On the particular day on which I came across this 
nest I was searching around with my camera on the 
lookout for subjects. Usually, when on such expeditions 
1 do not give much attention to these thickets, for I find 
from experience that our birds out here do not as a rule 
take advantage of this shelter — more than likely, I think, 
on account of the harbour it provides for their natural 
enemies such as snakes, little iguanas, and lizards of many 
kinds. However, departing from my usual custom on this 
occasion, T investigated the clump, it was a lucky move. 
From the first glimpse T got of the nest, only about eight 
feet from the ground, I thought it strange that a Butcher- 
bird should build in such a secluded spot. With the aid 
of a leaning stick, 1 started to climb to make further 
examination, as no eye could fail to notice that the nest 
was of this season’s construction. With my hands I 
parted the matted vines, and had only made one step 
upwards when I got satisfying evidence that I w r as at a 
Bower-bird’s nest. Just above me was the bird, with 
feathers spread from head to tail, and uttering incessantly 
the well-known hissing and scolding notes peculiar to her 
