CHLAMYDODERA ORIENTALIS, GonUi.
Queensland Lilac-napcd Bower-bird.
Chlamydera mchalis (nec Jard. & Selby), Ramsay, Ibis, 1865, 85.
Chlamydodera nuclialis (aec Jard. & Selby), Ramsay, Ibis, 1806, p. ,329—Id. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 385.—Id.
Proc. Linn. Soo. N. S. "Wales, ii. p. 188 (1878).
Chlamydodera orimtalis, Gould, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) iv. p. 74 (_1879).—Id. Birds of New Guinea, 1. pi. 41
(1880).—Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. Yi. p. 392 (1881).—Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. B. p. 11 (1888).
THIS is the eastern representative of tiie Lihic-naped Bower-bird of Nortli-western Australia. It is found
ojily in Queensland and the districts of Port Denison and RoeUinghani ]3ay. The diiferenees between the
present species and tlie true Chlamydodera nuchalis were first ¡¡ointed out by Mr. Gould In 187!), and have
since been admitted by myself in the 'Catalogue of Birds'and by Dr . E. P. Ramsay in his 'Tabular
List of Australian Birds,' wliere will be found a note on the differences between the eastern and westcDi
forms.
Dr. Ramsay states that he has received several specimens from Port Denison, where it is by no means
rare. His correspondent, Mr. Rainbird, sent him a living example, wliich he had in confinement for five
months. Dr. Ramsav says :—" It fed freely on bread soaked in water, and on almost anything in the sha])e
of fruit. It was a great mimic, and imitated many of our native birds with much |)recision, accomi)anied by
the most varied and pleasing actions."
Adult male. Similar to C. nuchalis, but mucli more mottled on the ujiper surface, with wliitish tljjs to the
feathers, these markings being very apparent on the head, which is not so uniform as in C. nuchalis. Total
length 13-5 inches, culmen I'O, wing 7-0, tail 5-5, tarsus I'O.
Adult female. Similar to the male, but wanting the lilac nuchal spot; the whitish spots on the back also
smaller and less pronounccd. Total length I2-5 inches, culmen 1-35, wing 67, tail 5-2, tarsus 17.
Young male. Similar to the adult female at first, and acquiring the nuchal patch by a moult.
The descriptions and figures are taken from the typical specimens iu the British Museum.