62 KiTSON, Notes on the Victoria Lyre-Bird. [2nd'o'ct 



ground, or in trees and scrub. I have nearly tramped on one 

 crawling along a scrub-suspended fallen tree, at a height of lo feet 

 from the ground, the snake being there probably with the dual 

 view of getting direct sunlight and young birds, and I for less 

 laborious and quicker progress than was practicable in the tangled 

 vegetation on the ground. 



In the case of another nest near, I found there was no sign of 

 any old bird until the young one screeched on being touched. 

 Then like a flash the female bird was on the spot, uttering notes 

 somewhat similar to those of a " clucking hen." On seeing me 

 she flew first into a tree-fern, watching intently meanwhile, 

 then on to the ground and scratched away, gradually working up 

 almost to within kicking distance. All this time she quietly 

 imitated three or four notes of the Magpie and those of a few other 

 birds. When any movement was made she jumped or ran away 

 a few yards and resumed her quest for grubs. When the young 

 one screeched rapidly several times in succession, the mother, after 

 giving her answering call, " Koo-wuk', koo-wuk'," made a noise like 

 a woman in hysteria. She calmed down when the young one 

 stopped its noise, and with a grating, purring noise floated down 

 to the ground and resumed scratching. 



The young one, when found on nth August, 1900, was probably 

 about two days old. It haci down on the crown and upper back, 

 the rest of it being bare, showing the whole of the skin to be of a 

 bluish-drab colour. The abdomen was an abnormal size and the 

 vent large, characteristics of all the young found. On nth 

 September, on my approaching the nest, the young one jumped out. 

 but was caught, when it screeched and struggled violently, using 

 its feet vigorously. It was most unwilling to enter the nest and 

 acted like the other one when placed therein. On i6tli Sei)tembcr 

 I again visited the nest, with a view to photographing it, but, 

 as feared, found it empty. 



Another young one, nearly full grown, sat up silently in the 

 nest when found, but when touched it struggled and screeched, 

 using its claws freely. In this case the female bird came rushing 

 up at once, but on seeing me darted back into the scrub and ran 

 round the nest, making meanwhile her " Koo-wuk', koo-wuk'," and. 

 in addition, the " Clungk, clungk " or " Buln buln " that Lyre-Birds 

 make when undisturbed in the scrub. This nest was within half a 

 mile of Jumbunna township, in an easily penetrable patch of scrub, 

 which probably accounted for the timidity of the parent bird. 



For the descriptions of nest, egg, &c., reference should be made 

 to Mr. A. J. Campbell and Mr. Robt. Hafl's observations in their 

 publications.* Nevertheless I shall give a few further personal 

 observations. Nests have been found in various places. The one 

 most favoured by the bird in South Gippsland is the side of a deep 

 channel or creek under a slightly overhanging bank, with ferns 



* A. I. Campbell, •• Nests an i Egj^s of Australian liirds," pp. 

 Hall, " The Insectivorous Birds of Victoria," pp. 171-176. 



510-523 ; Robert 



