5o8 A'ESl'S .i\D LGGS 01- AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Sest. — Large, oval, dome-sliaped sti-uctiue of sticks, twigs and roots, 

 interwoven loosely with pieces of bai'k and moss, and roots and fronds 

 of ferns ; inside lined vpith rootlets and finally the loose feathers from 

 the flanks and back of tiie bird. The entrance, which is in the side 

 (or front) is not covered with a hood, but the lower ledge, if anything, 

 proti-udes slightly. Situation usually in ravines or gullies, and placed 

 on the groimd at tlie foot of some stump or tree, or by the side of a 

 fallen log, sometimes it is placed on a ledge of rock in the face of a 

 cliff at a considerable height from the ground ; occasionally a nest is 

 found in the end of a log which has been hollowed out by fire and 

 formed into the shape of a scoop. Total length, 26 inches, height 12 

 inches, and width 18 inches; entrance 5 or 6 inches in diameter. 

 (Ramsay). 



E(iy». — Clutch, one only ; stout oval, some inclined to an ellipse in 

 shape ; texture of shell somewhat coarse ; svu'face slightly glossy, also 

 minutely pitted ; colour, as with those of M. victoria, individual speci- 

 mens, varies somewhat, but is usually of a pvu-plish-grey. blotched and 

 spotted all over, thickest around the apex, with dark-brown and sepia 

 and dull purphsh-gi-ey. Dimensions in inches: (1) 2-49 x 1-65, 

 (2) 2-49 X 1-61, (3) 2-35 X 1-66. 



Observationx. — This extraordinary bird takes its name from two 

 prominent tail feathers, shaped like an ancient Greek lyre, I continue 

 to quote Dr. Ramsay s remarks m connection with this species of Lyre 

 Bii-d (M. xupcrlia) of New South Wales: — 



" The nest of this species differs according to the locality frequented 

 by the birds — some being constructed of rough material, such as large 

 sticks, stringy-bark (of Eucalyptux) and dead ferns (Ptcrix aquilina), 

 others of very fine rootlets and pieces of H ymenophyllum tunbridgense, 

 which make a remarkably neat nest. Braisher, the most successful of 

 my collectors, who also prociu-ed the yoimg birds, called upon me a 

 few days ago with some of the eggs, when I took the opportimity of 

 getting all the particulars respecting the nidification. I find that in no 

 instance did he meet with more than one egg or one young bu'd in the 

 same nest. The birds commence to build in May, and lay their eggs in 

 June and July. The female is not fed by the male, nor has the male 

 bird ever been observed near the place after she has laid her egg. Tlie 

 female frequently leaves her egg during the middle of the day to search 

 for food. Tliis may account for the length of time taken in the hatching, 

 wliich sometimes extends over a month. The young do not leave the 

 nest untU they are eight or ten weeks old. When an observer is 

 standing in front of the nest, the egg or the young bu-d can easily be 

 seen in it. The female enters the nest head first, and then turns round 

 and settles herself on the egg, with her tail sometimes over her back, 

 but more often round bij her side. Thiis in time the tail becomes 

 askew, and is a tolerable guide to the length of time the bird has been 

 sitting. 



