KiTSON, Noles on the Victoria Lyre-Bird. 6' 



and leaves about (see Plate IX.) Another favourite one is among 

 the roots of a large fallen tree, several feet from the ground, with 

 vegetation growing, out of the contained earth. In the Baw Baw 

 and Walhalla districts Mr. J. Easton tells me that a large proportion 

 of the nests occurs in tall stumps of trees. All the nests are placed 

 so that the bird can have a clear space through which to fly or float 

 out of sight on the approach of danger. 



It has been stated that once a Lyre-Bird's egg has been touched 

 by human hands the bird deserts the nest. However true this may 

 be in individual cases, it by no means is general. On 26th August, 

 1900, I found a nest in South Gij^psland and handled the egg. 

 Between this date and 13th September I handled the egg on six 

 different occasions. On the last visit the egg was quite cold, and 

 the nest appeared to have been deserted, but on again visiting it 

 on the 15th, a young one, apparently just hatched, was in it. The 

 young bird was partially covered with down, as in the cases of 

 those already mentioned. On 23rd September, 1900, the feathers 

 were just showing through the skin on the top of the wings and 

 the upper back. Further observations on this I had no oppor- 

 tunity to make, on account of leaving the locality. During this 

 survey several abandoned nests, each with one egg, were found. 

 In these cases I do not think that the nests had been voluntarily 

 abandoned, but that the birds had been killed. 



All the young birds mentioned in this article were sent to the 

 National Museum, Melbourne, where they can be seen in the 

 scenic case of the Lyre-Birds. 



Dancing Grounds. 



These dancing grounds are open spaces, generally about 3 feet 

 in diameter, situated preferably in a rather clear place in a patch 

 of dense scrub. In some cases they are raised several inches above 

 the general level of the surrounding ground, while in others there is 

 little or no difference in level. The surface, which is flat, appears 

 to have been scratched up by the birds, and the sticks, roots, and 

 pieces of grass or creepers thrown to one side. Numerous ex- 

 amples have been noted in various parts of eastern Victoria, but 

 in no case have I seen any evidence of a beating down of the surface. 

 They all had a more or less freshly scratched appearance. On only 

 one occasion have I been fortunate enough to see the birds dancing. 

 This was on the top of Mt. Wild Boar, about 8 o'clock on a foggy 

 morning (19th March, 1896). When walking quietly alone along a 

 track I suddenly heard and immediately saw two male birds perform- 

 ing on one of these grounds. They were alternately advancing and 

 receding, turning, bowing, whirling, hopping, and running about 

 round the ground. W'hile doing this they raised and lowered their 

 tails repeatedly. Sometimes they put their head through their 

 raised tails, and, turning them, seemed to be admiring the lyre 

 designs thereon. At the same time they were, in rather subdued 

 tones, whistling beautifully, and mimicking all the forest birds. 

 One female bird walked quietly round the dance, making a few 



