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THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
9. Spotted Bower-bird Chlamydera maculata Gould 
Chlam-yd'-er-a— Gk, chlamys, mantle; Gk, dere, neck: mac-u-la'-ta— L., 
maculatus, spotted. 
distribution. From north-western Queensland to Victoria and 
South Australia. 
notes. Usually in pairs or small flocks, frequenting the scrub-lands 
of the inland districts. In habits it closely resembles the Satin Bower- 
bird, but is of a shyer disposition. Often, however, birds that take up 
quarters near homesteads soon become very tame and make nuisances 
of themselves in the orchards. It has a harsh, grating call, somewhat like 
the calls of the Satin and Regent Bower-birds. It is an excellent mimic, 
imitating perfectly the calls of other birds and Tush sounds generally. 
It builds playgrounds or bowers, like other Bower-birds, but much 
larger, averaging about 3 feet in length, and decorated with an assort¬ 
ment of bleached bones, pieces of glass, and other bright objects. The 
bowsers are usually built in a patch of scrub and are often pulled down 
and rebuilt time and again. Food: insects, seeds, and native fruits 
and berries. 
nest. A rather flat and shallow saucer-shaped structure, composed 
of thin dead sticks and twigs; lined with fine twigs, and sometimes with 
dried grasses. Generally placed in a leafy tree, at heights up to 30 feet 
from the ground. Usually the nest is a frail structure through which 
the eggs may be seen from beneath. 
eggs. Usually two, pale greenish-yellow, well marked with numer¬ 
ous lines of light to dark umber and blackish-brown, with others 
nearly black, and underlying lines of pale purplish-grey. Many eggs are 
beautifully marked, the tangled tracery of lines forming strange 
designs. Breeding-season: usually October to December. 
10. Western Bower-bird Chlamydera guttata Gould 
gut-ta'-ta— L., guttatuSj spotted. 
distribution. Mid-western, north-western, and central Australia. 
notes. Usually in pairs or small flocks, inhabiting the scrub-lands. 
It is similar in habits to the Spotted Bower-bird, though the bowers are 
smaller and less substantial structures; the decorations include pieces of 
white or grey limestone, with the usual collection of bleached bones. 
Food: insects (chiefly beetles), seeds, and native fruits and berries. 
nest. A frail, saucer-shaped structure, similar in construction to that 
of the Spotted Bower-bird, and usually placed in a small or large tree, 
at heights up to 20 feet or more from the ground. 
f.ggs. Usually two, pale greenish-grey, similarly marked with a 
tangled network of lines like those of the Spotted Bower-bird. Breeding, 
season: September or October to December, sometimes as late as 
February. 
11. Fawn-breasted Bower-bird Chlamydera cerviniventris Gould 
cer-vi-ni-veri-tris— L., ceruivus, coloured like a stag; L., venter, belly. 
distribution. Northern Queensland (Cape York Peninsula, on the 
