rjS N£STS AAD /^GGS Uh AUSTKALIAN BIRDS. 



May, 1892. They stated that on the 23rd March they foimd a uewly- 

 slarted Lyre Bird's nest, the walls of which were raised by the bird 

 at least two inches between tlic time of their passing in the forenoon 

 and return some three houi's later. 



The earhest authenticated record I possess of an egg noticed in a 

 nest was on the 3rd or 4th of July. The nest and contents were sub- 

 sequently washed down the gully by a great flood. Taking the thi-ee 

 first nests I found as a guide, and judging by the state of the 

 incubation, I should say they were laid about the beginning, middle, 

 or end of July respectively, therefore we may infer that the nest 

 generally is completed a week or two prior to receiving the egg, or 

 about the beginning of July; that, as a rale, the egg is deposited 

 during that mouth, and that the young is hatched about the beginning 

 of September. The young accompanies its parent till the following 

 laying season, and is often fed by her long after the youngster is able 

 to help itself. When grown, the young may be distinguished by its 

 noise — resembhng that of a domestic fowl's chick — and by the chestnut 

 coloming about the face and on the throat. 



At my request, Mr. I. W. De Lany endeavoured to prove the 

 length of incubation. He had one nest under observation, but unfor- 

 tunately had to shift quarters before the period was completed. The 

 egg was deposited in the nest on the 24th August, and when it was 

 taken on the loth September, or twenty -two days afterwai-ds, incuba- 

 tion had not advanced much. However, the following note from 

 Mr. De Lany shows he eventually succeeded. Writing from the 

 Omeo district, 1898, he says: — "They (Lyre Bu-ds) have been excep- 

 tionally late in laying this season, and the male birds have hardly 

 whistled at all. I found a nest partly built and watched it till the egg 

 was laid on the 1st September. The yoimg bird did not appear tiU 

 the 21st October, wluch is fifty days. I was beginning to tliink that 

 the egg was unfertile, and that the old bird kept sitting on. Another 

 nest that I foimd with the egg deposited a week later is not out yet 

 (the time of writing), so the exti'aordinary length of time appears to 

 be no exception." 



I can find no evidence of Lyre Birds re constructing their old nests, 

 as mentioned by one wiiter, although the birds may build near, or even 

 upon an old home, but, in rare instances, when the egg has been robbed, 

 another egg has been foimd in the same nest. 



I believe both birds aid in the construction of the nest, but the 

 female alone incubates, the male keeping entirely away from his 

 brooding mate. 



Nests are usually placed near the gi-ound in thick scrub, in valleys 

 or gullies, or on ridges, as well as more level country, but generally in 

 the neighbourhood of ferns and fern-trees, usually with a good outlook 

 in front, or down hill. 



I have already given the situations of the first three out of ten 

 nests which I found. The following, briefly stated, were the situations 

 of the remaining .seven : — 



(1) In a hazel gully, on right bank, pictui'esquely situated on a 

 small rock, with a fair moimtain streamlet passing the base of the rock. 



