1917-] British Association in Australia. Q7 



the whole Cook family essayed a " drive " towards me from 

 the lower edge of the scrub, hoping that the male, which 

 prefers the ground except at nightfallj would run up into 

 sight like a cock Pheasant. Apparently, however, he broke 

 away — certainly he did not arrive ; so, when the drive was 

 over we hunted the scrub for nests. Miss Cook cleverly dis- 

 covered an empty and well-hidden Lyre-Bird's nursery at the 

 side of a little gully, and I came across a small structure, pro- 

 bably belonging to an Acanthiza ; but evidently we were too 

 early for eggs in general, while we did not discover any 

 trace of a Bower- Bird's bower or of a Coach-whip Bird's nest. 

 Finally, as evening drew near, we took up our position in a 

 likely spot where Lyre-Birds were accustomed to perform. 

 We soon were aware of at least three climbing up the trees 

 to roost, and one male was kind enough to run the whole 

 gamut for my benefit. We often hear of the wonderful 

 powers of mimicry possessed by these birds, but the reality 

 almost passes imagination. Imitations of a dog's bark, a 

 hen's cluck, or a saw in action are varied by studies of other 

 birds' notes, the whole continuing for a considerable length 

 of time. We were fortunate enough to hear our male cover 

 almost the whole range of which he was capable ; in fact, 

 Mr. Cook said that he omitted only one item of his best 

 performance. And then we bid farewell to this wonderful 

 valley, and made the best of our way to Holbrook in 

 the dark. 



I was obliged to leave early the next morning, cheered 

 by the voices of the Grey Bell Magpie (^Strepera versicolor^ 

 and other species, after a most delightful visit spent in 

 equally delightful company. On the way to the station 

 we crossed a stream noted for the Duck-billed Platypus, 

 though none were visible at the time, while we had a fine 

 view of a row of Kookaburras sitting on the telegraph wires 

 by the roadside. The previous day I had added to my list the 

 Whistling Eagle (^Haliastur sphenurus) , seen soaring in the 

 distance, and the Tawny Frogmouth {Podargus strigoides) , 

 which was incubating in the fork of a fair-sized gum-tree. 

 The latter was a welcome and a curious sight, for the bird 



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