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THE SATIN BOWER BIRD , 
THE STARLINGS. 
The large and important family of the Stablings now claim onr attention. These birds 
are seldom of great size, the common Starling being about an average example of their dimen- 
sions. The bill of the Starling tribe is straight until near its extremity, when it suddenly 
curves downward, and is generally armed with a slight notch. The first sub-family of these 
birds is that which is known by the name of Ptilonorhynchinse, or Glossy Starlings, so called 
on account of the silken sheen of their plumage. 
The best representative of this little group is the celebrated Satin Bo wee Bied of 
Australia,, 
"r V 
SATIN BOWER BIRD . — Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus. 
This beautiful and remarkable bird is found in many parts of New South Wales, and 
although it is by no means uncommon, is so cautious in the concealment of its home, that even 
the hawk-eyed natives seem never to have discovered its nest. Perhaps they may be actuated 
by some superstitious reverence for the bird, and have therefore feigned ignorance of its resi- 
dence, for it is well known that the voracious native, who will eat almost anything which is 
not poisonous and will yield to his sharp and powerful teeth, has in many portions of the 
country so great an awe for this bird that he will never kill it. 
The chief peculiarity for which this bird is famous is a kind of bower or arbor, which it 
constructs from twigs in a manner almost unique among the feathered tribes. The form of 
this bower may be seen in the illustration, and the mode of construction, together with the 
use to which the bird puts the building, may be learned from Mr. Gould’s account : — 
‘ ‘ On visiting the Cedar Brushes of the Liverpool range, I discovered several of these 
bowers or playing places ; they are usually placed under the shelter of the branches of some 
overhanging tree in the most retired part of the forest ; they differ considerably in size, some 
being larger, while others are much smaller. The base consists of an exterior and rather con- 
vex platforih of sticks, firmly interwoven, on the centre of which the bower itself is built. 
This, like the platform on which it is placed and with which it is interwoven, is formed of 
