24 
peculiarity of one genna is the curious masked markings of the face 
and head, and there is another genus called or grass level’s, 
the several species of which are the most elegantly beautiful combina¬ 
tion of colours outside of the butterfly world. Anything more lovely 
than the Gouldian Gmss-finch it is not possible to find, even among 
the humming bii-ds of the Indies. It is pleasing to think that the 
ornithologist, who has done so much to make the birds of Austmlia 
known to the world, has so beautiful a gem named after him. It is 
an everlasting monument to his genius. Unfortunately the bird is 
uncommon, being only found in a limited district of Queensland. 
The family Faradiseidm are represented in Austmlia by the world- 
renowned Bower-Birds. There are four or five species of them, all 
to be found in Queensland. In size these bii’ds are about that of a 
large missel thrush, but plumper in form. Some of the species are 
very beautiful, notably the Satin-bird ZtoZo^ericews), the 
male of w’hich has the whole of the plumage of a deep shining blue- 
black resembling satin, and the liegent-bird (sericwZus melinus), the 
male of which has a gorgeous livery of golden yellow, and deep 
velvety black. Other species are fawn-coloui*ed, with more or less 
iridescent mauve-like collars upon the back of the neck. The whole 
of the species are fruit-eaters, and at times veiy destructive to the 
gardens. The peculiarity of the family is their habit of constructing 
bowers of twigs and grasses, erected on end and arching over like a 
bower. This structure is about one to two feet in length by a breadth 
that enables the bird to run easily through it. Shells, bits of bones, 
feathers, stones, and anytliing gjjy-coloured or glittering are collected, 
and placed about the bowers as ornaments. These are not nests, but 
are used simply as courting grounds, and playing places. Each 
species makes ite own peculiar shaped bower, some being longer and 
more elaboiately decorated than others. 
The Grow (conjws Australis) is to be found everywhere over the 
whole of Austmlia. Whei’ever there is a dead animal, large or small, 
whether in the forest, or on the plain, by the side of the sea shore, or 
in the far interior desert land, there is the crow. He is the universal 
scavenger and also destroys moi-e bird’s eggs than any other creature 
in the country. However, ho is outwitted by the gigantic cuckoo 
(Scythrops Tiovm hollandim)^ which lays its eggs in the nest; thus 
the crow becomes foster parent to the young one. 
The PIoney-Eaters (family Meliphagidm) are the most special 
featui-e of Austmlian Ornithology, nevertheless, I shall have to curiail 
jny description of them down to a single paragmph. The ornithologist 
Gould, in writing of this extensive family, says, “ They ai*e to the 
fauna of Austmlia, what the Eucalypti, Bankstce and Melaleucm are to 
the flora. The economy of those birds is so strictly adapted to those 
trees, that the one appears cssentml to the other; for what can be more 
plain than, that the bi’ush-like tongue is especially formed for gather¬ 
ing the honey from the flower cups of the Eucalypti, or that their 
diminutive stomachs are especially formed for this kind of food, and 
tbe peculiar insects, which constitute a xjortion of it.” There ai*o 
