^lO A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AVUTKATJAN BIRDS. 

 417. MeNURA VICTORIA, Gould. — (180) 



VICTORIA LYRE BIRD. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 662. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia, Hand- 

 book, vol. i., p. 303 (1865); Ramsay: Proc. Linn. Soc, N..S. 

 Wales, vol. vii., p. 50, pi. 4, figs. 1-4 (1882) ; Campbell : 

 Southern Science Record (1882), also Victorian Naturalist 

 (1SS4) : North : \ustn. Mus. Cat., pi. 10, figs. 1-2 (18S9), 



Geoff raph ica 1 Dist rih 11 1 ion .■ — Victoria . 



Nest. — The inner or nest proper is constructed of the dark wire-like 

 and fibrous material off fern-tree (Diclsonia) trunks and other fern 

 rootlets, closely matted and interwoven with stringy leaves, moss. 

 earth, &c. ; the inside bottom being lined with the bird's own feathers. 

 It is about twice the size and the same shape as a modem football, 

 with an end lopped off, which serves for a rounded side entrance. This 

 inner nest is embedded in or protected by an exterior construction com- 

 posed of large sticks and twigs, which are extended at the bottom into 

 a platform or landing-place at the entrance. Frequently over the whole 

 structure are artfully placed a few fronds (dead or green) or other 

 vegetation. The situations and localities, wliich are vaiious, are given 

 at length in the " Observations. " Dimensions over all : height, breadth, 

 and length, 24 to 30 inches every way; nest proper, 15 inches long by 

 12 inches in depth; inside, from wall to wall or from floor to roof, 

 10 to 12 inches; from entrance to back wall 13 to 14 inches; entrance 

 6 inches across, the ragged platform or landing-place extending .5 or 6 

 inches beyond the entrance. 



Effgs. — Clutch, one only ; inclined to oval or an elUpse in shape ; 

 texture somewhat coarse ; surface minutely pitted but glossy ; colour 

 varies from light to very dark piu-plish-grey, largely blotched, more or 

 less, vidth dark-brown or sepia and dull purplish-slate. Sometimes the 

 markings are of a more spotted character, and are thickest on and 

 around the apex. When full an egg weighs 1\ ounces. Dimensions in 

 inches of selected examples : (1) 2-6 x 1-74, (2) 2-6 x 1-73. (3) 2-42 x 1-72. 

 (Plate 16.) 



Ohservationa. — The cluef difference between the Lyre Bird of New 

 South Wales and the Victorian Lyre Bird is that in the latter species 

 the rufoiis bars in the two outer tail feathers are more defined and 

 broader, especially at the base, and the colour is much stronger and 

 deeper. The darker tint is also obser\'able in the tails of the females. 

 Certainly those seem slender grounds (as Gould himself admitted) for 

 separating the two species. But since that great natmalist's day, no 

 ornithologist has been bold enough to say they are not distinct. 

 However, it would be highly interesting to learn where the two species 

 insulate or what tract of countiT divides the one kind of bird from the 

 other. 



The geographical limits of the Victorian Lyre Bird extend 

 throughout the Australian Alps and adjacent spurs, as far westward 



