Vol. X. 



igii 



] Jackson, The Haunt of the Rufous Scrub-Bird. 333 



part, and within 30 yards of the nest of the Atrichornis (see photo, 

 and plan). It is remarkable that this pair of Lyre-Birds, which 

 I frequently noticed at " Atrichia Slope," should have their nest 

 so close to that of the Atrichornis, and the male to have his hillock 

 or play-ground within 15 yards of the large heap of debris (mass 

 No. i) which the male Atrichornis daily frequented when carrying 

 on his mimicry. 



The ordinary note of the Atrichornis is a prolonged and shrill 

 note, resembling " Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp," and usually re- 

 peated four times or more (generally four) in succession, with 

 about half a second duration between each call ; but sometimes 

 the interval is a little longer, and the sound gradually lowers in 

 pitch towards the last " chirps." The male only calls, but I have 

 often known him to remain silent for a whole day. Another note 

 which he utters here is " Sweet-sweet-sweet," rendered often 

 slowly, and with a pause of 3 or 4 seconds between each of the 

 " sweets." This note is apparently copied from the White- 

 throated Thickhead {Pachyccphala pectoralis), and I have often 

 heard this bird answering the Atrichornis' s call. 



Owing to their being incubated, the ground colour of the eggs 

 is lighter than those of the type set, which were perfectly 

 fresh : so, judging by this, I would conclude that the nest must 

 have just been ready for eggs on 7th October, when I first saw 

 the male bird in No. i mass of debris. 



On the following day (17th October) I again visited " Atrichia 

 Slope," and found the nest safe under the bark, but I saw no 

 sign of the birds, and the male was silent. Next day (i8th 

 October) I visited the locality again, and photographed the nest 

 in situ, also the pine log and surrounding area. In one of these 

 photos, a few fallen scrub saplings, which lie close together, 

 happen to appear somewhat like a fence, but I want to point out 

 that they are lying just as they fell. I also took other photo- 

 graphs, showing the heaps of confused d/'bris frequented by the 

 Atrichornis. 



I visited " Atrichia Slope " daily, in hopes of again seeing the 

 female, and on 22nd October I discovered both birds in a mass 

 of fallen trees and debris (see figure 4 in No. 2 mass on plan, also 

 white cross in black square in photo.) about 80 yards north-east 

 from where the nest was. I only once got a glimpse of the birds 

 as they peeped out of the debris. After the " shocks " the female re- 

 ceived when I tried to capture her, I fancied she would not build 

 in such a place again. The birds kept well out of sight in the 

 debris, and from what little I saw of the female again to-day there 

 appears to be very little (if any) difference between her and the 

 male in general colouring. Only the male bird made any call or 

 note, and he left the female and travelled through the tangled 

 rubbish to the northwards, from where he called, the female 

 remaining perfectly silent. Here the male rendered a peculiar 

 note resembling the squeak of a frog ; then, again, rather a clear 

 and loud flute-like whistle. Getting another sight of the female 



