File:Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon (1901) (14747007431).jpg

Identifier: nestseggsofaustr01camp (find matches)
Title: Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Campbell, Archibald James, 1853-
Subjects: Birds -- Eggs Australia Birds -- Nests Australia Birds -- Australia
Publisher: Sheffield, Printed for the author by Pawson & Brailsford
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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r subsequently observed by my son near the same locality. It was situated on a trodden-down bed of short sticks, within a wreath or ckcle about fom- feet in diameter, of lawyer palm plants (Calamus australis). Bed of sticks about one inch in thickness varied in breadth from nineteen to twenty-two inches. Walls at base seven and three-quarter inches broad by six inches high, tapering to a point. Width of avenue (between walls) four inches. One wall in thickest part two inches, in the other two and seven-eights inches. Archie's own observations concerning birds he saw performing in this bower are:—When first seen there were three birds playing in the bower; two were what we took to be males—but they were immature—and the other was a female. The antics they went through were extra-ordinary, and they were not in the least disturbed by our presence. One would go into the centre of the bower and, picking up a shell, of which there were three, would dance, half opening its wings and then tossing
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NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 2\ I the shell in the air or over its head would run out. While this was going on the other two birds outside were scraping or sweeping the ground with their wings, and when the shell fell, one would pick it up and enter the bower to go through the same performance as the first bird, and so on. There were four or five fresh young leaves in the bower at the time, and on visiting the locality the following afternoon, these were seen to be thrown out and four fresh ones placed in their stead. , Regent Birds being frugivorous, are very destructive to the fruit crops of the selectors, and, like many other fruit-eating birds, are very partial to the black, juicy berries of the ink weed (Plii/fohicra), an introduced plant, which flourishes breast high in nearly every clearing throughout the district. On questioning the aborigines (Richmond River tribe) about the Regent Bird, they called it Yelgiin, which means the sun, and has reference no doubt to the birds splen

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