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CHLAMYDODE RA OCCI PITALIS, Gould.

Large-frilled Bower-bird.

Chlamydodera ocewitalis, Gould, Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist. 4th series vol. xvi. p. 429 (1875)
8, vol. xvi. p. 429 (1875

In describing the present species in 1875, I wrote as follows :—* Of all tl
rns species : all the acts performed by birds, that
of building owers, variously decorated with shells, bleached bones,

| glittering stones
and gaudily coloured feathers, must ever be ranked ‘ on

amongst the most interesting traits in

| ee connexion with
ornithology. At present the only known country in which the

| : a se playing-places or halls of assembly are
constructed is Australia. noever may have the good fortune to lift up the cartain which separates New
AT

Not four years have yet elapsed since those words
were penned ; and they already appear to have been prophetic. In tl

Guinea from other countries, may probably find others.”

iat short space of time how much has
been done to unravel the mysteries of the avifauna of New Guinea, resulting

Be ae . a . mm x ae x =
knowledge of the Bower-birds! The south-eastern part of that great island

in no small addition to our
has been ransacked by English,
Italians, and Dutch; and these collectors have made us acquainted with the birds which are me with in
that newly explored country. Then, again, in the north-western portion of the island, we owe to the
energies of the distinguished Italian traveller, Dr. Beccari, the discovery of Amblyornis inornata, whose
capabilities in bower-building and decoration seem to eclipse those of any of the other species.

The male of the present bird (Ch/amydodera occipitalis) is one of the novelties I have but lately received.
It is true I had in my collection a female from some unknown locality, which always seemed to me to differ
from those of all the other species I had seen ; but I hesitated to describe it, and it was not till a year or so
previous to 1875 that the receipt of the fine male bird which is figured in the accompanying Plate enabled
me to publish its specific characters. That its true habitat was Northern Queensland I was pretty certain ;
and in confirmation of this opinion, Mr. Janson, a highly respectable person and dealer in natural-history

specimens, from whom I purchased the skin, kindly writes to me as follows :—

“Dear Sir,—On reference to my books I find that you purchased the Bower-bird of me on the 20th of

January, 1872; and, referring to my old letters, I see that it formed part of a collection made by
Mr. Jardine at Port Albany, North Australia.
“Yours truly and respectfully,
«* Epwarp W. JANSON.”

If it should be proved that the Cape-York district is its true locality, it will then be the representative of
C. guttata of the north-west, and C. maculata of the south. The principal distinguishing characteristic, in
addition to its somewhat larger size, consists in the extreme beauty of its occipital patch, which is nearly
twice as large as in the species mentioned, and is even of a more brilliant lilac colour, particularly if the
frill be turned up and seen from beneath.

Ihave drawn in the accompanying Plate a male, about the size of life. ie
yf o ‘ yes sent to me by the
a photograph of some unknown species se j

The decorative bower forming

j late
part of the illustration is taken from
Mr. Coxen, of Brisbane ; it may, or may not, be that of the present bird.

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