SPOTTED BOWER-BIRD. 
about, the Spotted Bower-Bird has a decided liking to fly up into a dead and 
absolutely leafless tree ; probably this is because a clear view of the surroundings 
can be obtained from such a position better than would be the case from a green 
or well-foliaged tree. When it came to nest builduig, however, the birds always 
were found to choose a green tree, so I recorded the conclusion that it was a case 
of dead and leafless trees for ‘ look-out,’ and green trees for nest building. The 
proper or regular note of these birds is a harsh, guttural somid, closely resem¬ 
bling that produced by the Satin Bower-Bird, the Regent Bower-Bird, and 
others of the family. ... It frequently uttered a deep, frog-like croak while 
feeding about and chasing one another in front of my camp, and when thus 
engaged they have a queer habit of hopping sideways rather than straight 
ahead. . . . One of them was making a peculiar ‘ Chucker-chucker- 
chucker’ sound rapidly. This note, so far, I have only heard these birds 
make when they have a nest. The same apphes to a note resembling 
‘ Kurra-kurra-kurra-kurra,’ quickly uttered. . . . Found an unusually neat 
nest of Bower-Bird in a green belah tree, and containing two young birds. 
They appeared only a few days old, and were covered "with fine brown 
down. Mouths yellow inside, skin on head and body black. . . . Among 
the Bower-Birds which I shot and preserved were some females possessing the 
lilac nape, which hitherto I always understood were only on the males. 
The eyes are large and dark brown in colour, with a large black centre. . . . 
Altogether I fomid 95 nests, the bulk of which were very old, placed in no 
less than 17 different species of trees.” 
Macgilhvray (the younger) has recorded: “ Met with at Sedan. Air. 
Mclennan’s note, made on 24th February’", 1910, reads: ‘ Saw a bird m a 
thick bush. Could not get a clear look at it, so shot it; it proved to be a 
Bower-Bird. Its mate flew from a tree close by, and started to mimic aU the 
birds of the district—^Miner, Friar-Bird, Wliistler, Magpie, Butcher-Bird, Red- 
throated Honeyeater—and ended with a marvellous imitation of a cat in a rage.’ 
When at Cattle Creek, 50 miles west from Cloncurry, this note was made: 
‘ While fixing up the horses I heard a Bower-Bird mimic the following birds : 
Black Cbckatoo, Whistling Eagle, Brown Hawk, ICite, Butcher-Bird, Black¬ 
faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Whistler and Restless Flycatcher—aU imitated to perfec¬ 
tion ; in fact I was trying to locate the three first-named birds when I saw 
the Bower-Bird. They were numerous round this camp.’ ” 
D’Ombram noted from “ The Watercomse,” New South Wales : “Scattered 
through the district. Playgrounds in dry ridges of sandalwood. Usual assort¬ 
ment of bones, pieces of glass; the latter, chiefly hlac or amethyst colour in 
harmony with the bird’s ‘ colour-patch.’ Noted : The heavier articles, 
as nails, bolts, etc., are always placed in centre of the bower. Bowers less 
VOL. XII. 
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