CHLAMYDODERA OCCIPITALIS, GouU. 
Larg-e-frilleci Bower-bird. 
Chlamydodera occipitalis, Gould, Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist. 4th series, vol, xvi. p. 429 (1875). 
In describing the present species in 1875, I wrote as follows; — “Of all the acts performed by birds, that 
of building themselves beautiful bowers, variously decorated with shells, bleached bones, glittering stones, 
and gaudily coloured feathers, must ever be ranked amongst the most interesting traits in connexion with 
ornithology. At present the only known country in which these playing-places or halls of assembly are 
constructed is Australia. Whoever may have the good fortune to lift up the curtain wdiich separates New 
Guinea from other countries, may probably find others.” Not four years have yet elapsed since those words 
were penned ; and they already appear to have been prophetic. In that short space of time how much has 
been done to unravel the mysteries of the avifauna of New Guinea, resulting in no small addition to our 
knowledge of the Bower-birds ! The south-eastern part of that great island has been ransacked by English, 
Italians, and Dutch ; and these collectors have made us acquainted with the birds which are met with in 
that newly explored country. Then, again, in the north-western portion of the island, we owe to the 
energies of the distinguished Italian traveller. Dr. Beccari, the discovery of Amblijonm inornata, whose 
capabilities in bower-building and decoration seem to eclipse those of any of the other species. 
The male of the present bird {Chlamydodera occipitalis) is one of the novelties I have but lately received. 
It is true I had in my collection a female from some unknown locality, which always seemed to me to differ 
from those of all the other species I had seen ; but I hesitated to describe it, and it was not till a year or so 
previous to 1875 that the receipt of the fine male bird which is figured in the accompanying Plate enabled 
me to publish its specific characters. That its true habitat w'as Northern Queensland I was pretty certain ; 
and in confirmation of this opinion, Mr, Janson, a highly respectable person and dealer in natural-history 
specimens, from whom I purchased the skin, kindly writes to me as follows : — 
“Dear Sir, — On reference to my books Tfind that you purchased the Bower-bird of me on the 20th of 
January, 1872; and, referring to my old letters, I see that it formed part of a collection made by 
Mr. Jardine at Port Albany, North Australia. 
“ Yours truly and respectfully, 
“ Edward W. Janson.” 
If it should be proved that the Cape-York district is its true locality, it will then be the representative of 
C. guttata of the north-west, and C. maculata of the south. The principal distinguishing characteristic, in 
addition to its somewhat larger size, consists in the extreme beauty of its occijiital patch, wdiich is nearly 
twice as large as in the species mentioned, and is even of a more brilliant lilac colour, particularly if the 
frill be turned up and seen from beneath. 
I have drawn in the accompanying Plate a male, about the size of life. The decorative bower forming 
part of the illustration is taken from a photograph of some unknown species sent to me by the late 
Mr. Coxen, of Brisbane ; it may, or may not, be that of the present bird. 
