86 NiCHOLLS, Bird Life in the National Park, N.S.W. [,,f"'oct. 



practically featherless. But it has more feathers now than it 

 had seven years ago. Two feathers which hang from the back 

 of the head are sulphur-yellow. The upper portion of the bill 

 is abnormally long. Mrs. Bennett, in my presence, unlocked a 

 small leather receptacle and took out seven pieces of what had 

 once formed portion of the bird's beak ; total length, 17 inches. 

 There were originally eight pieces, but one has been lost. After 

 Captain Ellis's death, some 5 years elapsed before the ship came 

 to Sydney, bringing the Cockatoo with it. Mrs. Bennett has 

 had the bird in her possession for 21 years. 



We were unfortunate in not seeing or hearing Lyre-Birds when 

 in the Park with the overseas visitors ; but, on the following 

 week-end, Mr. and Mrs. Burrell and myself spent two days there, 

 and had much better luck. As before, we rowed up the river, 

 passing our camp of the previous Sunday. We had not travelled 

 more than a hundred yards, round a bend, when the nest of a 

 pair of Black Swans came into view. It contained five eggs, 

 and the male bird was on the nest. (In another nest, some miles 

 down the river, known to Mr. Burrell, the male bird invariably 

 sits on the eggs during the day time.) The female bird joined 

 her mate in the defence of the nest as preparations were made 

 to secure a photograph. This nest was built of coarse sticks and 

 twigs and river-weed, and anchored to a snag in the water 

 18 inches deep. The other nest seen by Mr. Burrell was built 

 entirely of river reeds. It also contained five eggs (the full clutch). 

 Continuing up stream, the river presents more and more of a 

 tropical appearance on account of the near approach of the 

 banks. We were on the look-out for Lyre-Birds, and un- 

 expectedly came upon them, our attention being attracted by the 

 call notes, loud and shrill, and the calls of many other birds, rapidly 

 repeated. Landing, we saw a Lyre-Bird run across a rock not 

 more than 15 yards away. It was joined by another bird. Both 

 proved to be males, engaged in a rivalry of song. They faced 

 each other, 3 feet apart, with wings outstretched and tails 

 raised, the tail quills quivering and rattling. For several 

 minutes the bush resounded with calls of many kinds as the two 

 birds vied with each other. Then the notes suddenly ceased, 

 and, with lowered tail, one of the birds walked away 6 or 7 

 yards, but immediately ran back upon a challenge being uttered 

 by its rival. This occurred several times. The repertoire of one 

 of the birds (the challenger) was not equal to that of the other, 

 while its tail feathers appeared to be fewer and shorter. It was 

 probably a younger bird. We listened to these birds for 25 

 minutes, and the following is a list, made on the spot, of the bird- 

 calls mimicked : — 



(i.) Coachwhip-Bird {Psophodes crepitans). — Perfect imitation, 

 including the low "indrawn" note and crack, followed by the 

 two final notes of the female. 



(2.) Harsh guttural notes uttered by male Coachwhip when 

 female is on nest and danger threatens. 



