the Birds of North Queensland . 
623 
the centre of the bower, though some have three openings 
and others none at all. A little fruit is scattered about in 
and outside the bower. 
Iris yellowish white; feet black (in younger specimens 
greenish slate) ; bill brown. 
20. fTECTONOitNis dentirostris (Ramsay). 
Scenopceus dentirostris Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. vi. 
p. 394 (1881). 
Occurring in company with the preceding species on the 
higher levels of Mt. Bellenden Ker. 
Iris brown ; feet greenish white; bill black. 
The “ playground ” of this species is a bare space 6x4 feet, 
cleared of sticks and old leaves and ornamented with freshly 
plucked green leaves placed with the upper surfaces down¬ 
wards. The birds amuse themselves by hopping about in 
this open space and arranging and rearranging these leaves. 
This genus is evidently a transitional form between 
Chlamydera and the Gardener Bower-birds ( Amhlyornis ) of 
New Guinea. 
21. f^LURCEDUs maculosus Ramsay; Sharpe, t. c. p. 385. 
Many specimens. 
Evidently exceedingly common in the dense scrubs of the 
coast range, although rather difficult to procure as it is very 
shy and in plumage assimilates closely to the surrounding 
foliage. <e Iris red; feet lightish slate or greenish slate; 
bill bluish white ” {Olive). 
A nest with two eggs in an advanced state of incubation 
was procured on November 22nd, and the male bird was 
shot off the nest, which is bowl-shaped in form, 160 mm. in 
external diameter and 120 mm. internal. Its external depth 
is 110, internal 50 mm. It is composed almost entirely of 
fine twigs neatly wound round and covered on the outside 
with the leaves of what is known locally as the Moreton Bay 
Chestnut, some of which are partially skeletonized. It was 
situated in dense scrub on the branch of a tree at a height 
of some 15 feet above the ground. The eggs are somewhat 
swollen ovals of a delicate creamy yellow approaching the 
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