iP.iBnr.AMmn>if.Ir a H B C H A L I 8 .
CHLAMYDERA NUCHALIS.
Great Bower-Bird.
Ptilonorhynchus mchalis, Jard. and Selb. 111. Orn., vol. ii. pi. 103.
Calodera nuchalis, Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, Part I.
Chlamydera mchalis, Gould, Birds of Australia, 1837, Part I. cancelled.—G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, p. 40.
T h is fine species was first described and figured in the “ Illustrations of Ornithology,” by Sir William Jar-
dine and Mr. Selby, from the then unique specimens in the collection of the Linnean Society; but neither
the part of Australia of which it is a native or any particulars relative to its habits were known to those
gentlemen, nor have I myself had an opportunity of observing it in a state of nature, the bird being an
inhabitant of the north-west coast, a portion of the Australian continent that has, as yet, been but little
visited. I am indebted for individuals o f both sexes o f this bird to two of the officers of the “ Beagle,
Messrs. Bynoe and Dring; but neither o f these gentlemen furnished me with any account of its economy.
Captain Grey, however, on his return from his expedition to those regions, informed me that he frequently
found during his rambles a most singular bower, made in every way like that of the Chlamydera maculata,
and which was always an object of great interest to him, being unable to satisfy himself as to what animal
had constructed it, or even whether it was the work of a bird or o f a quadruped: he was inclined to
suppose the latter, but I think there need not be the slightest hesitation in ascribing its formation to the
Chlamydera mchalis; for we may reasonably expect that a species so very closely allied to that o f the
southern and eastern portions of the continent would partake of its peculiar habits and economy. The
following notes were written on the spot, and were kindly given to me by Captain G r e y |b
“ These bowers were formed of dead grass and parts of bushes, sunk a slight depth into two parallel
furrows, in sandy soil, and were nicely arched above; but the most remarkable fact connected with them
was, that they were always full of broken sea-shells, large heaps o f which also protruded from each
extremity of the bower. In one of these bowers, the most remote from the sea that we discovered, were
found a heap of the stones of some fruit which had evidently been rolled in the sea. I never saw any
animal in or near to these bowers, but the dung of a small species o f Kangaroo was always abundant
close to them, which induced me to suppose them to be the work of some kind of quadruped.
The circumstance of Captain Grey never having perceived the birds near the runs, serves to show that it
exhibits the same shyness of disposition as the other species.
Head and all the upper surface greyish brown, the feathers o f the former with a shining or satiny lustre;
the feathers of the back, wing-coverts, scapulars, quills and tail tipped with greyish white ; on the nape of
the neck a beautiful rose-pink fascia, consisting of narrow feathers, partly encircled by a ruff o f satin-like
plumes, the tips distinct, rounded, and turning inwards; under surface yellowish grey, the flanks tinged
with brown ; irides, bill and legs brownish black.
In one of the specimens I possess, and which formed the subject o f the upper figure in the Plate, no trace
of the nuchal ornament is observable, a circumstance I conceive to be indicative of youth rather than a
distinguishing characteristic of the sexes, since in the other species I find the mark common to both, but
the, young bird of the year without any trace of it.
The Plate represents a male and a young bird, of the natural size.