The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-12
BIRD THAT BUILDS PAOODAS
Peculiar Fancy of "a Feathered Creature
for Interior Decorations.


From the New York Herald
No country contains animals, birds
or fishes more strangely. strikngly I'M
like those of our own country than
does Australia. Her rivers TEEN with
queer-shaped. gaudy fish, her marshes
are alive with loathsome reptile forms,
her forests abound in curious wild
beasts and her meadows and groves re-
sound with the voices of beautiful and
for the most part unknown birds. OF
the feathered creatures none is more
likely tn attract the eye of the traveller
than the bower bird. II is not the
sheen of its glistening purple plumage,
so dark as to appear black in the brush.
nor even the wild, full note II utters
every now and again, that draws the
attention. Its bower, its extravagant-
ly decorated bower. at once gorgeous
and absurd, is what one first observes
and never forgets.
Most of our native birds instinctively
select neutral tinted twigs, roots dry
leaves and moss to form their homes.
avoiding every touch OF bright color
This is to guard the hidden nest from
the eyes of prying foes. But this sem
timental feathered folly disregards
every precaution when building. He
Is of the starting family, and like his
American and English cousins will
steal anything that he can carry away.
His structure, which he will later or
nament with the fruits of untold thefts.
is begun by laying a platform OF sticks
under the bough OF an over-hanging
tree. This Is always in a most seclud-
ed region, too, and preferably near a
small brook. The platform is highly
convex in form, so that, when fully
matched and covered with roots and
finer twigs there is left beneath the
dome-shaped heap a roomy hollow
h d d 80 l. a
shelter from the weather, but simply
as meeting place or club. so to speak,
where fiocks of birds gather and play
in the sunny hours.
When the rough pile is made. how
ever, do not imagine that any parties
or dances are given at once. No sign
OF using the carefully built castle Is
given until some gay colors begin TO
make its walls conspicuous Bright
tinted PEBBLES from the shadows OF the
brook are laid around. the blue. red,
green and gold feathers OF parrots and
pheasants are literally laid over and
above the bower; gorgeous blossoms
are brought fresh every day and the
withered ones removed; bleached
white bones and the entire skeletons OF
snakes and mice are entwined with
green bark, and shells Of every hue are
strewn on the moss by the arched
doorways. The bower becomes a blaze
of color.
No artist studies the effects OF the
various shades more intently than this
lover of many hues. Each tone is so
placed that the neighboring tints en-
nance and accent its and their own
brllliancy.
The nests of this eccentric fowl like
the reason for it's habits. are still un-
known. Scientists have had TO con-
tent themselves with giving the bird
one of their long. homely names (Pit-
ilonorhyuchus halosericeus) and devils
ing several absurd causes for the build
ing of bowers. The writer has always
had theory, which Is. of course. mere
ly fanciful, like all the rest. that the
bird is so fearful Of it's nest being dis
covered that IL builds the most incon-
spicuous sort OF an affair. hidden so
as to defy detection and then builds
and ornaments these bowers to divert
attention from its real home.
All these birds do not build bowers,
for the finding OF one Is considered very
rare. although the birds are very nu-
merous. When a full assemblage Is at
play the discovery is not difficult. for
the birds run wild with uplifted wings
through the bower and around II. ut
tering sweet but piercing cries that
may be heard for a great distance.
The young birds may be distinguished
by their olive green plumage. which.
as they mature, changes TO rich.
dark purple The bower birds live
happily in captivity. and spend much
of their time i'm building these queer
pagodas of twigs and gay ribbons and
bits Of glass. They become very tame
and live to an old age in an aviary.