Vol. XIV.-] NicHOLLs, Bird Life in the National Park, N.S.W. 85 



ground — a tangled mass of moss-grown rocks and ferns and brush 

 and bracken^the billy was boiled, and lunch eaten under the shade 

 of a Cabbage-tree Palm {Livistona australis). Bronze-Cuckoos 

 (Chalcococcyx basalts) and Fan-tailed Cuckoos {Cacomantis flabelli- 

 forniis) called, and the notes of the Harmonious Thrush {Colluri- 

 cincla harmonica) rang clear and sweet along the river valley. 

 Many other species were seen and heard. Mr. Le Souef dis- 

 covered a nest of the Rock-Warbler {Origma nibricata). It hung 

 from the under surface of a large rock wall which had fallen 

 slantwise across several other boulders, forming a miniature cave. 

 It was easily perceptible in the dim light of the rock shelter, but 

 was not so readily seen some distance from the entrance. The 

 nest, a long, domed structure, twice the size of a soldier's water- 

 bottle, was composed of bark and covered with cobweb — a dark 

 slaty colour. It was suspended by fibrous material, wedged and 

 twisted round a plate of rock projecting from the surface. It 

 contained three pure white eggs. Both nest and eggs appear 

 large for the size of the bird, of which, unfortunately, we .did not 

 catch a glimpse on this occasion. Upon the return trip down 

 the river a close search was made for the Lyre-Bird {Menura 

 superba), without success. Five days later three pairs were met 

 with. Several pairs of the Blue Kingfisher {Alcyone azurea) were 

 met with, the boat passing within 15 feet of one bird. Their 

 tameness drew forth the remark that in England only a flash 

 of blue would have been seen as a Kingfisher darted round a bend 

 in the stream. The nest of a Lyre-Bird, constructed in the 

 previous season, was inspected. It was built on a rock face over- 

 hanging the river, 15 feet above the water, where some 500 to 

 1,000 people pass every Sunday during the summer months. 

 A motor road passes within 6 feet of the nest. A young bird was 

 reared in this nest last year. The parent birds fed with fowls 

 belonging to one of the Park rangers, whose house is situated less 

 than a quarter of a mile from the nest. 



On the homeward journey a halt was made at Tom Ugly Point, 

 on the George River. At the Sea Breeze Hotel the famous " Cocky 

 Bennett," a White Cockatoo [Cacatua galerita), reputed to be 

 117 years old, was examined. The history of this bird, as far as 

 I could ascertain, is as follows : — Mrs. S. Bennett, the pro- 

 prietress of the hotel, has owned the bird for 26 years. It was 

 given to her by Captain George Elhs, late of Tanner's Island and 

 Fiji. Captain Ellis, at the age of 9 years, was bound apprentice 

 to a South Sea Island saihng vessel. The bird was then in the 

 possession of the captain of the ship. Ellis became boatswain, 

 and eventually captain, of the ship in which he first sailed. 

 Captain Elhs used to stay with Mrs. Bennett, then Mrs. Bowden, 

 of Bowden's Hotel, Elizabeth-street, Sydney, when his ship was 

 in port. He died 26 years ago, and left the bird to Mrs. 

 Bowden on the condition that she would never part with it. 

 Mrs. Bennett informed me that she had promised the bird to the 

 Sydney Museum, should it survive her. "' Cocky Bennett " is 



