^"\ 2^^ ] Jackson, Second Trip to Macphcrsoti Range, Q. igg 



been presented to the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, l)v Mr. 

 H. L. White. 



A close examination was then made, and at the place where we 

 first heard the bird call we found the nest, built on the almost 

 perpendicular bank, and placed on projecting roots amongst 

 ferns. The rocks in the creek at this spot were covered with masses 

 of beautiful orchids {Sarcochiliis falcata) in full flower. The blossom 

 is a frosted white, and about one inch across, the bottom portions 

 of the petals being mottled with pink. The nest was situated 

 up 2 feet 6 inches from the level of the creek bed — 4 feet from 

 where the water was running. It contained one addled egg in 

 perfect condition, and one chick, only a few days hatched. The 

 chick was preserved in formalin solution, as it was something new 

 to science ; it had only a little blackish down on the head and 

 down the middle of the back, the other portions being naked and 

 whitish in colour. 



The domed nest is a typical and perfect specimen, composed of 

 dead leaves, small pieces of dead tree-fern leaves, and flat rush 

 or scrub-grass {Xerotes longifolia, var. montana), all loosely 

 put together. The inside is lined neatly with the same peculiar 

 wood-pulp material, resembling thick cardboard of coarse quahty, 

 as were all the other nests previously found. Notwithstanding 

 all the rain, the nest was warm and dry inside. We had to strike 

 a match and use a reflector in order to see into the dark nest, the 

 neat round opening of which faced due west, and measured about 

 an inch and a quarter across. The ^gg closely resembles those 

 found in the Dorrigo scrubs, N.S.W., in 1898 and 1910, except that 

 it is a little more elongated and the markings are more liberally 

 distributed. Nest, egg, and the little chick are now in the collec- 

 tion at Belltrees. 



The female belonging to the nest gave, in the flesh, the following 

 descriptions and measurements (in millimetres) : — Total length, 

 162'; wing, 56; tarsus, 18: bill to base of gape, 18; tail, 60. 

 Upper mandible dark horn colour ; lower mandible light horn, 

 very pale underneath ; eyes coffee-brown ; legs brownish-horn ; 

 feet light brownish-horn ; circumference of body around wings 

 folded in natural position, 95 mm. 



The body, showing ovaries intact, was preserved in formalin. 

 This female had wonderfully strong thighs and legs. No wonder 

 the birds could get over the ground with such magic and active 

 movements ! All the under surface was a rusty colour, similar 

 to the female secured in 1919. 



Three other nests were discovered during the present trip, two 

 of which appeared a few seasons old, but were nevertheless 

 collected ; they contained the unmistakable wood-pulp lining. 

 They were both built in small tree-ferns on the steep bank of a 

 creek, one being placed 9 inches from the ground and the other 

 12 inches up — new situations in which to be found. One nest 

 was found within 20 inches of an old nest of the Albert Lyre-Bird. 

 The third nest was a new one, and placed 9 inches up from the 



