TOOTH-BILLED BOWER-BIRD. 
and the birds are not scarce in the scrub about there, as I have seen them several 
times. Perhaps his mate was sitting, or he may have been a confirmed old 
bachelor coUectmg leaves for a hobby.” 
Broadbent’s notes read: “ This interesting species has been obtained 
by me on the Tully River, twenty-four miles from CardAveU, at Cairns, at Herbert 
Gorge, and on Sea View Range, as far above the level of the sea as the scrubs 
extend, but always on the mountains, stray individuals only descending below 
2,000 feet. It excels all other Bower-Birds as a mimic, and may be fitly termed 
the master mocking-bird of Australia. Not only wiU it imitate the note of 
every bird in its neighbourhood, but so closely does it do so, that they are 
drawn to it as to one of their own kind. This is especially the case during the 
breeding-season, and in May I have remained at one spot in the Herberton 
scrubs by the half-hour listening wdth wonder to its changeful utterances. Its 
bower, or dancing-ground, is of a unique description, a small portion of the 
ground of the scrub being rendered perfectly square for the space of a square 
yard or so, save the presence of seven to nine large leaves, which the bird has 
placed therein, and with which it plays. These leaves, which are those of a 
particular kind of tree, it renews every morning.” 
As an extra part to the Emu, Vol. VIII., was published an accoxmt entitled 
“ In the Barron River VaUey, North Queensland,” by S. W. Jackson, dealing 
in detail with his investigations into the nesting and other habits of this bird, 
and this must be referred to by all students. I can only quote a few items 
in this place. Thus, Jackson suggests “ that the object of the bird in plsicing 
the leaves face dowir was to prevent them (as long as possible) from curhng, 
as is the habit of leaves, towards the upper side. ... I proved my theory 
to a certain extent by experimenting with the same kind of leaves, when I 
found that, placed right side up, they soon curled out of shape and symmetry, 
whilst those which were reversed, in spite of extreme heat, remained flat for 
some time. Some ornithologists have thought the disposing of the leaves 
in this fashion to be due to an aesthetic preference on the bird’s part for the 
softer colour of the under-side of the leaf. This, of course, may be the case, 
but the other theory seems more feasible.” 
Jackson noted: “I never saw these birds perched in the trees, though 
of course in such dense foliage they might be there without being visible; 
stni, the fact remains that I never heard their note that day anywhere save 
at their playgroimds. It is also strange that these grounds are apparently 
frequented by only one bird, which will sit aU day in seemingly self-satisfied 
contemplation of its artistic arrangements, and enlivening the solitude with 
a babble of harsh and immusical sornids, with an occasional clear and beautiful 
reproduction of the notes of other scrub-birds ; but each performance would 
311 
