The SATIN BOWER BIRD (_Ptilonorhynchus holosericus_), a
recently-discovered inhabitant of Australia, is a very celebrated member
of this family. The body of this species is powerful, the wings rounded
at the tip; the tail of moderate size, and cut straight at its extremity;
the tarsi are high, slender, and the toes short. The beak is strongly
formed, the upper mandible arched at the tip over the lower portion,
which is also slightly bent. The adult male is truly a splendid creature,
with rich satin-like plumage of a deep blue black; the primary quills and
the secondaries are of velvety blackness, tipped with blue, as are also
the wing and tail feathers; the iris light blue, surrounded by a narrow
red ring; the beak is blueish grey, tipped with yellow, and the feet red.
The female is green upon the upper parts of the body, and underneath of
a yellowish green; the feathers are spotted here and there with brown
crescent-shaped spots, that give a scale-like appearance to the lower
portion of the bird; the wings and tail are deep yellowish brown. The
young resemble the mother.
Gould has made us familiar with the curious habits of the Satin Birds,
whose favourite haunts are found amidst the thickly-foliaged "bush" of
Australia, and here they may be seen living in pairs throughout the
greater part of the year, only quitting their favourite locality when
tempted to short distances by the hope of obtaining some particular
kind of food. In autumn they usually congregate in small flocks, and
seek a home among the bushes that grow upon the banks of neighbouring
rivers. Insects sometimes form a portion of their diet; they, however,
prefer fruits and grain, and are fond of robbing the gigantic fig-trees
of their tempting burden. When engaged in eating, these birds are so
extremely shy and cautious as to render their capture almost impossible.
One of the oldest members of the party is usually found perched upon
the highest branch of some neighbouring tree for the purpose of warning
his companions of approaching danger: this he does by a peculiar clear
note, which--should the sentinel become excited--is followed by a harsh,
guttural cry. Their _bowers_ have been described by the author from whom
we quote as most peculiar and beautiful in their construction. From
observations made by himself, he tells us that these remarkable erections
are generally placed upon the ground, under the shelter of an overhanging
tree or bush, in some quiet and retired place, and vary considerably in
their size. The walls are strongly formed of twigs and small branches
woven together in such a manner as to bring the ends in contact at the
top. An opening is left to form an entrance at both extremities of this
strange arbour, which is decked with every gay or shining material that
the little architects can procure; snail or mussel shells, pebbles,
or white bones are laid as ornaments to grace the entrances, and
Parrot-feathers or brightly-coloured rags are stuck between the twigs;
indeed, so well do the natives know the passion of the Satin Bird for
glittering or polished objects, that should they lose anything of that
description, they at once endeavour to discover the bower that has been
beautified at the expense of their property. Gould mentions having
found a pretty pebble an inch and a half long lying within one of these
edifices, which was also decked with a variety of blue woollen scraps
that had, doubtless, been stolen from a settlement in the vicinity. Males
and females alike resort to these bowers, solely, as it would appear, to
disport themselves in very much the same manner as we do in a ball-room,
dancing and turning about with the greatest spirit and liveliness, or
chasing each other up and down their gay apartment in an untiring whirl
of sportive delight. Should a female lose her mate, she at once consoles
herself with another; and we have known an instance in which one of them
was deprived of no less than three successive mates, without deterring
her from participating in the gambols of the rest of the party. The
males principally undertake the actual labours of constructing the gala
chamber, whilst all the more delicate work of beautifying the interior
devolves entirely upon the females; the nests are said to be built at
no great distance from the bower; but the eggs, as far as we know, have
never been found. A pair of Satin Birds were presented to the Zoological
Gardens in the Regent's Park some few years ago, and a bower, constructed
by them, may be seen in excellent preservation in the British Museum.
* * * * *
The COLLAR BIRDS (_Chlamydera_) are nearly allied to the group
last described, and are addicted to the same remarkable habit of
bower-building. In these species the beak is compressed at its sides
and notched towards its tip; the upper mandible is slightly vaulted;
the wings are long and pointed, their third and fourth quills being of
greater length than the rest; the tail is long and slightly rounded; the
tarsi are covered in front with broad scales; the toes are large, and
furnished with sharp-pointed claws.
[Illustration: THE SPOTTED COLLAR BIRD (_Chlamydera maculata_).]