jq5 Howe, Notes on the Genus Pycnoptilus. [,s^"Aprii 



Most of the nests are practically miniature Lyre-Birds' nests, but 

 another type is distinguished from that of Sericornis frontalis only 

 by its larger size. The nest of the Pilot-Bird is one of the most 

 difficult to find, and usually the opening is the first thing to catch 

 the eye. The female builds the nest with wonderful rapidity, 

 generally completing it in from a day and a half to two days, and 

 the eggs are laid about a week later. 



I was fortunate enough to see a bird start her nest early one 

 morning. She had selected a small isolated bit of sword-grass 

 on the bank of a dry creek. Hearing the birds calling frequently 

 and excitedly, I crept down a fallen dead tree. The first thing I 

 saw was a female hterally throwing herself into the grass, turning 

 round and round, and using her wings vigorously. She soon had 

 a fair-sized opening. By the evening the nest was nearly finished, 

 only the lining being needed. Anothei- nest was found building 

 at 8.30 a.m., there being merely a few leaves noticeable in the 

 space that had already been fashioned in the sword-grass ; at 

 4.30 p.m. the nest was nearly finished. With nests built on the 

 ground it was noticed that small holes had been scooped in the 

 earth to receive them. Two eggs form a clutch, and, although 

 one authority gives the complement as from two to three, I am 

 inclined to think that one egg, where there were two, would 

 belong to a Cuckoo. The eggs are very beautiful, resembling 

 ripe acorns. They are generally of a uniform dark chocolate, 

 with an indistinct zone, but the colour varies to light choco- 

 late and olive-green. I have seen specimens that were 

 almost grey, with indistinct bands encircling the whole 

 shell. One pair of birds always laid eggs typical of 

 those of the Rufous-breasted Thickhead, Pachycephala rufiventris 

 {Lewinornis r. rufiventris), and, of another clutch, one is typical 

 and the other more like a very large specimen of the egg of 

 Sericornis frontalis [S. I. longirostris). Other specimens are faintly 

 spotted with dark umber or purple, appearing to be beneath the 

 surface of the shell. Occasionally eggs have black, hair-like 

 markings, and these are easily removed. Another very beautiful 

 type is zoned or belted as if owing to a lack of pigment, and 

 when held up to the light is transparent. These eggs are very 

 brittle, and have the appearance of being cracked all over ; the 

 surface is rather glossy, and the texture very fine indeed. An 

 average clutch, in inches, measures — (i) 1.06 x .76, (2) 1.05 x .77.* 



Incubation, which is carried out by the female alone, lasts about 

 16 days. During the first few days the female does not sit close, 

 but will flush from the nest at the first approach of danger. She 

 comes off more often to feed, and sometimes is absent for a few 

 hours ; but as incubation proceeds she is more reluctant to leave 

 the nest, and it is very hard to flush her. To find the nest our 

 usual procedure was to separate in the scrub and wait for the call 

 of the male. If the day was very warm we often waited for 



* " Nests and Eggs," Campbell, p. 258. 



