female each possess a
dwelling on two neighbouring trees, the principle of conjugal
cohabitation not being admitted in this species. As to the child, it
appears that it sleeps near its mother, until it is of age to lead an
independent life.

There exists in Australia, the country of zoological singularities, a
bird with very curious customs. This is the Satin Bower-bird. The art
displayed in this bird's constructions is not less interesting than
the sociability he gives evidence of, and his desire to have for his
hours of leisure a shelter adorned to his taste. The bowers which he
constructs, and which present on a small scale the appearance of the
arbours in our old gardens, are places for re-union and for warbling
and courtship, in which the birds stay during the day, when no anxiety
leads them to disperse. They are not, properly speaking, nests built
for the purpose of rearing young; for at the epoch of love each couple
separates and constructs a special retreat in the neighbourhood of the
bower. These shelters are always situated in the most retired parts of
the forest, and are placed on the earth at the foot of trees. Several
couples work together to raise the edifice, the males performing the
chief part of the work. At first they establish a slightly convex
floor, made with interlaced sticks, intended to keep the place
sheltered from the moisture of the soil. The arbour rises in the
centre of this first platform. Boughs vertically arranged are
interlaced at the base with those of the floor. The birds arrange them
in two rows facing each other; they then curve together the upper
extremities of these sticks, and fix them so as to obtain a vault. All
the prominences in the materials employed are turned towards the
outside, so that the interior of the room may be smooth and the birds
may not catch their plumage in it. This done, the little architects,
to embellish their retreat, transport to it a number of conspicuous
objects, such as very white stones from a neighbouring stream, shells,
the bright feathers of the parroquet, whatever comes to their beak.
All these treasures are arranged on the earth, before the two entries
to the bower, so as to form on each side a carpet, which is not
smooth, but the varied colours of which rejoice the eye. The prettiest
treasures are fixed into the wall of the hut. These houses of
pleasure, with all their adornments, form a dwelling very much to the
taste of this winged folk, and