Sharp County record., 1880-10-21
Singular Habits OF the Bower Bird.

Singular Habits OF the Bower Bird.
Have the young people OF the O5-
seryer ever heard of the little bower
builders of Australia? Perhaps OF all
the feathered tribe they are the most
remarkable for their architecture, as
we'll as for many marked pecuIarltles
which no other bird mas.
Wonderful as these bowers are which
they build, they are not for the rearing
OF their Young nor as place of deposit
for their eggs, as one would naturally
think, but rather as sort Of hospltable
retreat, where they entertain their
numerous friends as well as the men,
bers of their own family!-a trysting-
place, as it were, for social converse
ton (for you know that birds can talk
as well as weD But more curious
fact still is that they use these bowers
as gymnasums, where they perform a
great many wonderful feats, Hosts Of
birds, of both sexes, resort to these
bowers, playfully running in and around
them, and so constant are their visits
that they are seldom if ever entirely
deserted.
When about to build theirnests, these
little birds hunt for a place which shall
be retired-in fact, entirely concealed
from vIeW-often on the tops of high
trees, and they are built very much as
other birds nests are, while these
pleasure houses as one writer has
called them, seem to be eXclu-
sively for the entertainment Of
friends, and are always placed
in exposed positions. When once
a bower is completed for there is
an immense amount Of labor bestowed
upon it) it will serve for several sea-
/ sons, with a little reconstruction and
some additions.
The first bower builder that we knew
anything about was the satin-bird of
New South Wales, and so beautiful were
these constructions that for long time
it was supposed that they were built by
| the natives, to be used as cradles for
their children.
Perhaps it would interest the young
people to know how these little bowers
are constructed. First, then, the birds
| make platform of twigs interviewer,
in the very middle of which the bower
is built This, too, is made of twjgs,
but far more slender ones, and so az
ranged as to curve inward and almost
meet at the top. These bowers are al
ways found beautifully decorated, show
ING q vast amount of taste as well as
skill, and not only that, but great mark
of refinement withal Just think of it!
Even the grounds around the bowerare
ornamented with all sorts Of objects of
beauty and curiosity They gather
flowers and precious stones, all sorts of
minerals, bright feathers of other birds,
and even the bones of animals. One
thing is singular, however, they never
collect any bones that have not been
thoroughly bleached in the sun, and as
they feed upon fruits and seeds almost
entirely themselves, these bones cannot
be regarded as the remains of any of
their victims.
The spotted bower-bird is even more
wonderful, if possible. This birds
home is in Australia. The bowers built
by this species are longer and more
like an avenue, being sometimes three
feet in length and beautifully lined with
all sorts of tall grasses arranged so that
their heads meet. Many kind of shells
and small stones are so placed as appar
emily for the purpose of keeping the
grasses in their places, showing conclu-
sively a design in the arrangement
which is truly wonderful. Not only this,
but they are so laid out as to form little
paths, while at the entrance and on
either side of these paths there is an
immense collection of material for
decoration; and when we think that
these bowers are often built far away
from any river, we can imagine the
amount of labor that must have been
employed in bringing stones and shells
from such great distance. Is it not
hard to draw the line between instinct
and reason when they are so closely
allied? After all, what we call instinct
seems to be only one kind of reason,
and were it not that these accounts are
confirmed by many an observer, we
might almost look upon them as tales
from fairy-land. Surely, it is a singular
provision of nature which seems to be
especially given to this bird.
There is one other bird which we
must not forget in this account for il
has been said to excel all others in in
telligence, and this is the garden
Bird or gardener, as some writer's call
it. These birds are very fond of flowers
and make real gardens in front of their
dwellings, They like to get snowy in
sects, too, and scatter them about the
galleries and over the garden; bits of
silk, the tip of tail, feathers of every
domestic bird fact, whatever they
can find to brighten and ornament their
grounds and dwellings. This little bird
has great Gift in being able to change
Its notes Ike a mOcking-bird OF rare
powers, which sounds, for all the world,
it is said, like a tune with wondrous
variations; and we all know what har-
monious sounds there are in the differ
ent songs of the birds.
How unwearied must be the diligence
of these birds, for they seem to have a
double duty to perform; but they are
very happy with it all. All birds are
certainly privileged creatures in
nature, working and sporting as it
takes their fancy, and yet doing each,
whether work or play, in its proper