CHLAMYDERA MACULATA, Gould.
Spotted. Bower-bird.
Calodera maculata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part IV. p. 106, and Syn. Birds of Australia, Part 1.
Chlamydera maculata, Gould, Birds of Australia, 1837, Part I. cancelled.
T h is species, which is nearly allied to the Satin Bower-bird, is especially interesting, as being the constructor
of a bower even more extraordinary than that of the latter, and in which the decorative propensity is carried
to a far greater extent. It is as exclusively an inhabitant o f the interior o f the country as the Satin Bower-
bird is of the brushes between the mountain ranges and the coast ; and though in all probability it has a
wide range over the central portions o f the Australian continent, the only parts in which I have observed it,
or from which I have ever seen specimens, are the districts immediately to the north of the colony o f New
South Wales. During my journey into the interior I observed it to be tolerably abundant at Brezi on the
river Mokai to the no.rthward of the Liverpool Plains : it is also equally numerous in all the low scrubby
ranges in the neighbourhood of the Namoi, as. well as in the open brushes which intersect the plains on
its borders ; still, from the extreme shyness of its disposition, the bird is seldom seen by ordinary travellers,
and it must be under very peculiar circumstances that it can be approached sufficiently close • to observe its
colours. It has a harsh, "grating, scolding note, which is generally uttered when its haunts are intruded
on, and by which means its presence is detected when it would otherwise escape observation : when
disturbed it takes to the topmost branches of the loftiest trees, and frequently flies off to another neighbourhood.
I found the readiest way of obtaining specimens was by watching at the water-holes where they
come to drink ; and on one occasion, near the termination of a long drought, I was guided by a native to
a deep basin in a rock which still held water from the rains of many months before, and where numbers
o f these birds, as well as Honeysuckers and Parrots, were constantly assembling throughout the day. This
natural reservoir had probably been but seldom, if ever, visited by the white man, being situated in a remote
mountain, and presenting no attraction to any person but a naturalist. My presence was evidently regarded
with suspicion by the visitants to the spot ; but while I remained lying on the ground perfectly
motionless, though close to the water, their thirst overpowering their fear, they would dash down past me
and eagerly take their fill, although an enormous black snake was lying coiled upon a piece of wood near the
edge of the pool. Of the numerous assemblage here congregated the Spotted Bower-birds were by far the
shyest of the whole, yet six or eight of these, displaying their beautiful necks, were often perched within a
few feet o f me. The scanty supply of water remaining in the cavity must soon have been exhausted by the
thousands of birds that daily resorted to it, had not the rains, so long withheld, soon afterwards descended
in torrents, filling every water-course and overflowing the hanks of the largest rivers : I remained at this, to
me, interesting spot for three days.
In many of its actions and in the greater part of its economy much similarity exists between this species
and the Satin Bower-bird, particularly in the curious habit o f constructing an artificial bower or playing-
ground. I was so far fortunate as to discover several of these bowers during my journey to the interior, the
finest of which I succeeded in bringing to England, and it is now in the British Museum. The situations of
these runs or bowers are much varied : I found them both on the plains studded with Myalls ( Acacia pendula)
and other small trees, and in the brushes clothing the lower hills. They are considerably longer and more
avenue-like than those o f the Satin Bower-bird, being in many instances three feet in length. They are outwardly
built of twigs, and beautifully lined with tall grasses, so disposed that their heads nearly meet ; the
decorations are very profuse, and consist of bivalve shells, crania of small mammalia and other bones.
Evident and beautiful indications of design are manifest throughout the whole o f the bower and decorations
formed by this species, particularly in the manner in which the stones are placed within the bower,
apparently to keep the grasses with which it is lined fixed firmly in their places : these stones diverge from
the mouth of the run on each side so as to form little paths, while the immense collection of decorative
materials, bones, shells, &c., are placed in a heap before the entrance o f the avenue, this arrangement being
the same at both ends. In some of the larger bowers which had evidently been resorted to for many years,
I have seen nearly half a bushel of bones, shells, &c., at each of the entrances. In some instances small
bowers, composed almost entirely of grasses, apparently the commencement of a new place of rendezvous,