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TECTONORNIS DENTIROSTRIS,

Tooth-billed Bower-bird.

Ramsay.

Scenopeus dentirostris, Ramsay, P. Z. S. 1875, ll. p. 188 (1878).—Gould,
7 B. New Guinea, i. pl. 43 (1880).—Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vi. p. 394 (1881).—North, Prog. Linn.
: Soc. N.S. W. (2) i. p- 1162(1 887).—Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. B. p. 11 (1888).—De Vis, Rep. Exped.
Bellenden-Ker Range, p. 86 (1889).
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P- 591.—Id. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. §. W.

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Tus curious Bower-bird was first described by Dr. E. Pierson R
Johnstone near Cardwell in Queensland. Unfortunately they we
somewhat damaged, but were sufficiently intact to allow
sent by Mr. Coxen to the late Mr. Gould,

The late Mr.

Australia, and

—

amsay from specimens shot by
re killed with a rifle
of their correct description ;
who figured it in his « Birds of New Guinea.’
Bowyer Bower obtained several Specimens during his first ex
a pair were presented by him to the British Museum.

With the first discovery of the species came but little informa
Johnstone stated that, although he did not discover a ‘ bower,
it cleared a large space under

part with tufts and little heaps of tinted leaves and young

“* Gardener ” Bower-birds, is ¢

Inspector
and the skins were
and one of them was

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pedition to North-eastern

tion regarding its habits, but Inspector
> he found that, like the Cat-birds (Aur

adus),
n feet in diameter and orn

amented the cleared
shoots. This characteristic hab}
onfirmed by that exce

the brushwood some nine or te
t, which places
Tectonornis among the

llent observer, Mr. A. J. North,
who writes ;—

5

2

“This remarkable bird is quite unlike

any other genus of the family, and is found only in the de
brushes of the Bellenden-Ker

Range, situated on the north-east coast of Queensland ;
extend further north than the scrubs near Cooktown, nor has it been found further
River. As far as at present known, this species does not build a bower; but in lieu thereof clears a space
in the scrub about 10 feet in diameter, and ornaments it with little heaps of bright berries and gaily
coloured leaves and flowers, &c. Nothing is known of its nidification

Mr. Broadbent, who also met w

at present.”
ith the species in the Bellenden-Ker Range, s

bird and was procured at 4000 feet :

The name of Scenopeus being alre:

it was not found in low scrubs,
ady preoccupied among the Dipte
for the present species.
Adult male. General c

nse
its range does not
south than the Herbert

JOR

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ays that it is a true mountain
or at least very seldom.

ra, I have proposed that of Zectonornis

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olour above dark olive-brown, wings a little more ruddy brown than the back, quills
dusky on the inner web; tail olive-brown like the back; ear-coverts dusky brown, streaked w
shaft-lines of reddish brown, the cheeks and sides of the neck similarly streaked with
under surface of body fulvous, the feathers with broad m
appearance, less strongly marked on the abdomen ;
tawny shade, slightly mottled with a few dusky edging
along the edge of the inner web. Total length
: pi: Adult female. Similar to the male in colour. Total length 10:5 inches, culmen 1-2, wing 5-6, tail 3°95,
Tt tarsus 1-35,

ith mesial
broader pale Streaks ;
imparting a streaked
s deeper fulvous, of a
s to the feathers ; quills dark brown below, yellowish
10:5 inches, culmen 1-15, wing 5:7, tail 3°7, tarsus 1°3,

argins of dusky brown,
under wing-coverts and axillarie

 

The figure in the P]

ate is taken from thet
The descriptions

ype specimen lent by Dr. Ramsay to the late Mr. Gould.
are taken from examples in

the British Museum.