AMBLYORNIs INORNAT;

Gardener

ne

> e
0OWer-bird.

Ptilorhynchus nornatus, Schleo., Tijdsch. Dierk. vol. lV Deol (1871)

Amblyornis inornata, Elliot, Ibis. rd) pp: Nag Mons r p i
: nel eee) Ogr,

vad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Ge ;

Beccari, tom. cit. 12, BD, ti

)
; » Ellio raradis.
1873, p. 697.—Sal . Vil Oy
NOV. Vil. p. 780 (187

XXxvll. (1873).—Sclater. Fee Zens)
av. vill.—Salyad

| °).—Id, Op. cit. ix. p. 193 (1876-77),—
- Op. cit. x. p. 15] (1877). |

eee

Ir was not until Baron Von Rosenbero penetrated | interi ON
; io ed into the interior of Northaw i

7 North-western New
Science. It was first described
under the name
Elliot, when preparing his Monograph of the P

the sexes, the plumes which

Guinea th: ,
present species became known to by Prof Schl ae ei
: ; ’y *rotessor Schlegel, who receive
specimens direct from the Baron, of Ptilorhynchus i , ee ae
“ornynchus inornatus. Shortly afterwards Mr

In addition to tl
Were wanting in

<

oo
iradiseidee, pointed out that.
hide the nostril in Prtilorhynchus
therefore separated it under the name of . Lmblyornis,

The Malays call the bird “ Gardener.’

1e similarity of
the new species ; and he

from the * CORA ae bee :
aac 1¢ floral decorations he gives to his bower and the lawn
before it.

The following abstract of the article publishe y Dr. Becear; - anediG QR An : .

art 7 published by Dr. Beccari appeared in the ‘ Gardeners Chronicle’ for
March 16th, 1878, from which I transcribe it :—

“The Amblyornis inornata, or, as | propose to name it, the Bird gardener, is a Bird of Paradise of the
dimensions of a Turtledove. The specific name ‘ inornata’ well suggests its very simple dress. It has none
of the ornaments common to the members of its family. its feathers being of several shades of brown, and

oe? te . SU \ ’
showing no sexual differences.
“It was shot some years ago by the hunters of Mynheer von Rosenberg. The first descriptions of its
powers of building (the constructions were called ‘nests’) were given by the hunters of Mynheer Bruijn.
lests to Ternate; but it was found impossible to d
reason of its great size and the difficulty of transporting it.

They endeavoured to bring one of the 1 o this, both by
“T have fortunately been able to examine these constructions at the remote places where they are erected.
On June 20, 1875, I left Andai for Hatam. on Mount Arfak.

I had been forced to stay a day at Warmendi
to give rest to my porters.

At this time only five men were with me; some were suffering from fever, and
the remaining porters declined to proceed. We had been on our Way since early morning ; and at 1 o'clock
we intended to proceed to the village of Hatam, the end of our journey.

“We were on a_ projecting spur of Mount Arfak. ‘The virgin forest was very beautiful. Scarcely a ray
of sunshine penetrated the branches. The ground was almost destitute of vegetation. A little track Way
proved that the inhabitants were at no great distance. A limpid fountain had evidently been frequented.
I found here a new Balanophora, \ike a small orange or a small fungus. T[ was distracted by. the songs and
the screams of new birds; and every turn in the path showed me something new and surprising. I had just
killed a small new marsupial (Phascologale dorsalis, Pet. and Doria) that balanced itself on he stem a a
great tree like a squirrel; and turning round, I suddenly stood before the most remarkable species of the
industry of an animal. It was a hut or bower close to a small meadow enamelled with flowers. The a
Was An 2 diminutive scale. I immediately recognized the famous nests described by the hunters of Bruijn.
I did not suspect, however, then that they had any thing to do with the constructions oe OO
After well observing the whole, I gave strict orders to my hunters not to destroy the hills building. a
however, was an unnecessary caution, since the Papuans take great care never to éhistagl these nests or
bowers, even if they are in rete way. The birds had evidently enjoyed the greatest quiet ma we Sg

‘ : -eache » heieht of about 4800 feet ; and after halt
unfortunately for them, to come near them. We had reached the height «
an hour’s walk we were at our journey’s end, 7 ee

“The Nest.—I had now full employment in the preparation of my treasure; and ee . i le

; : “ » neares > to my halting-place.
not to shoot many of the birds. The a ee a ae bith eee Wee which
morning I took colours, brushes, pencils, and gun, ie ' . - ss : ae were at home. I could not
I now publish (fig. 56, p. 333). While I was there neither host nor hostes:

Oe

S ag ut, when they watched their movements to shoot
 . ; tering and going out, when tne)
wait for them. My hunters saw them entering and going

f

— Nee