THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
opportunity of uniting with Dr. Latham in designating so distinguished a 
bird by the name of the late respected Secretary of this Society,” the name 
being “ Ptilonorhynchus macleayii Lath. MSS.” It is curious that they should 
not have known that when Kuhl proposed the genus he also well described 
and named the species. 
Apparently Coxen was one of the first to observe the bower-building 
habits of this bird, as Gould has recorded: “ The extraordinary bower-like 
structure first came under my notice ui the Sydney Museum, to wliich an 
example had been presented by Charles Coxen, Esq., of Brisbane, as the work 
of the Satin Bower-Bird. The locahties frequented by the Satin Bower-Bird 
are the luxuriant and thickly foliaged brushes stretching along the coast from 
Port Phihp to Moreton Bay and the cedar brushes of the Liverpool range. 
So far as is at present known, it is restricted to New South Wales; certainly 
it is not found so far to the westward as South Austraha, and I am not aware 
of its having been seen on the north coast, but its range in that direction can 
only be determined by future research. It is a stationary species, but appears 
to roam from one part of a district to another, either for the purpose of varying 
the nature, or of obtaining a more abmidant supply of food. Judghig from 
the contents of the stomachs of the many specimens I dissected, it would seem 
that it is altogether frugivorous, or, if not exclusively so, that insects form but 
a small portion of its diet. Independently of numerous berry-bearing plants 
and shrubs, the brushes it inhabits are studded Avith enormous fig-trees, to 
the fruit of wliich it is especially partial. It appears to have particular times 
in the day for feeding, and when thus engaged among the low shrub-like trees 
I have approached ivithin a few feet without creating alarm, but at other times 
the bird was extremely shy and watchful, especially the old males, which not 
unfrequently perch on the topmost branch or dead limb of the loftiest tree 
in the forest, whence they can survey aU round, and watch the movements 
of their females and young in the brush below. In the autumn they 
associate in small flocks, and may often be seen on the ground near the 
sides of rivers, particularly where the brush descends m a steep bank to the 
water’s edge.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian has written me: “ These birds are common in the 
mountains east of Melbourne at Lilydale, and I saw one on the 17th 
September, 1906, in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, supposed to be the 
flrst time observed in the city. Their favourite playgroimds are placed 
on the gromid, and into these they brmg stones, glass, paper, rags, bones, 
and any object which attracts them.” 
Mr. E. Ashby has written : “ I have met with tliis lovely bird in several 
places in Gippsland and in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria.” 
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