246 ROBERTv^, Prince Edzvard's Lyre -Bird. [Jil^A^p"?!! 



nest in the sulcus, in the tree stum[), on the ledge, and in the rock 

 in the cleft, and at no time do they build with the base not firmly 

 planted, aj., in a cleft \vith(nit a supporting rock. In April, to- 

 wards the end, all are investigated by the nesting couple, special 

 attention being paid to those two years old or over. Each is 

 thoroughly exposed to the weather, the rough outer sticks dis- 

 placed, the outer dome opened up and flattened {vide Plate 3 B). 

 Last year's nest is difficult to deal with, and is therefore rarely 

 used. Take the nest in the cleft used this year, and four years 

 ago: two years ago it was slightly disorganised, last year flat- 

 tened, and this year used as a base for the nest {vide Plate 3 A). 

 More information can be obtained, however, from an absolutely 

 new nest, built last year on a shelf sloping downwards and in- 

 wards, and devoid of vegetation or debris. The experiment was 

 disastrous, and though the disaster was as far as possible guarded 

 against by the birds, circumstances overcame them ; heavy and 

 continuous rain beating against the rounded, upright surface of 

 the rock, flooded their ledge and with it their nest. This is in my 

 experience a fairly common cause of disaster. The birds know 

 it, and to guard against it first lay a foundation of soil picked up 

 in the form of grcnving mossy turf, spongy, but once soaked with 

 w'ater a good deflector, and additionally weighty. Into this are 

 worked sticks as a reticulation and joists. It is built up four or 

 five inches, uprights are gradually worked amongst its joists, and 

 a few rough sticks thrown across the top. The nest proper is 

 built upon this foundation, and within this framework. Upon 

 the foundation are placed scraps of stringy bark mouth-chewed 

 and crimped, forming a second spongy layer in degree and posi- 

 tion, and being rather a remarkable piece of work. Then comes 

 the first water-proof layer, consisting of leaves in texture similar 

 to a garden gladiolus, but a little harder. Hard grasses, roots, 

 etc., according to availability, come next into use, and are woven 

 so as to form a continuous inside lining for bottom, sides and 

 dome, and it is a beautiful piece of thatch. A few dried leaves 

 attached to small twigs are invariably added to the exterior of 

 the dome as a final touch, and the nest is complete. There is 

 no landing platform, hood, and at i)resent no soft, downy lining. 



These architectural eft'orls have been tedious and long drawn 

 out, but in the case of an old nest or growing vegetation being 

 used as a base, the extreme care taken with tlie base has not to 

 be repeated, though it does not shorten building operations much. 

 The whole building takes a couple of months, and if disaster 

 overtakes the nest after completion and laying, I have never 

 known the birds to start afresh that year, nor is a second brood 

 ever attempted after a successful efTort. 



A consideration of the aspect chosen cuts no ice: it is any- 

 where, but never exposed to full sunlight for more than a few 

 minutes at a time, and i)ictures(iuc statements of unimpeded 

 views of valleys, etc., convey an erroneous impression. I have 

 seen scores in which the nest faced a blank wall, and in which 

 the birds were veritable troglodvtes. the desideratum being a- 



