The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-10-21

HDamo nature 8 giad k9oy-peAs eng lgayV once
ssYSchooi Is out, and vacation is here.ns
-Mary D. Brine, in Ha'per's Young People.
f FOn Es---e-- ~
Singular Habits Of the Bower Bird.
k Have the yeung people of the o.
seTver 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 az for many marked peculiarities
which no other bird has,, , ) .. an
Wonderful as these bowers are which
they build, they are not for therearing
|, Of their young nor as a, place of deposit
for their. eggs, as one would naturally
think, but rather as a sort of hospitable
retreat, where. they entertain their
numerous friends as well as the men,
.bersI Of their own family!-a trysting-
place, as it were, for social CONVERSE
ton (for you know that birds can talk
aswell as weDsf But q more curious
fact still is. that they use these bowers
as gymnasiums, where they perform a
great many wonderful feats.. Hosts of
birds, of both, sexes, resort to these
bowers, playfully running in and around
themsi and So constant are their visits
that they are seldom if ever entirely
deserted. = q. <utii2 fss!f! ~
D When about to build their nests, these
little. birds hunt for place which shall
be- retired-in fact, entirely concealed
from vlew-often' on the tops of high
trees, and they are built very much as
other birds nests are, while these
pleasure hOuses,n as one writer has
called them, seem to be iexclu-
tsivefy for Sslthe : entertainment of
friendssc. 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 a long time
lit was supposed that they were built by
the natives, to be used as cradles for
their children: ''443 ga = atiia :. ;.
L. Perhaps it would interest the. young
people to know how these little bowers
are constructed: First, then, the birds
make a platform of twigs interwoven,
in the very middle of which the bower
is built. This, too, is made of twigs,
but, far more slender ones, and so ar
ranged as to curve inward and almost
meet az the top. These bowers are al
ways found beautifully decorated, show
ing q vast amount of taste as well as
skin, and not only that, but agreat mark
of refinement withal! just think of it!
Even the grounds around the bower are
Ofnamented 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 mot 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
The spotted bUwer-bird is even more
wonderful, eff possible This birds
home is in, Australia The bowers built
by this species are longer and more
like an avenue,p; being Sometimes three
feet in length and beautifully lined with
all sorts of tall grasses arranged 50 that
their heads meet. Many Kind of shells
and small stones are SO placed as appar-
emily Tor the purpose Of Keeping the
grasses in their. places, showing. conclu.
sivelE . design in the; arrangements
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
mmense collection of material for
DECORATION; and: when we think that
these bowers are often built far away
'front.' any river. we scan imagine the
amount Of labor that must have been
employed in bringing stones and shells
from such q 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 fairy7land.. Surely, it is singular
provision of nature which seems to. he
especially given to this bird.
Ihere 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 a tail, feathers Of, every
domestic sird--in fact, whatever thew
can ind to brighten and ornament their
grounds and dwellings,. This little bird
mas a great gift in being able to change
IFS notes like q. mocking-bird of rare
powers. which sounds, for all the world.
II Is said, like tune with wondrous
variations; sand we all know what bar-
monlous sounds there are in the differ.
emit songs Of the birds. ls37'
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