Page:The Emu volume 10.djvu/445

 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 débris (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 repeated 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 (Pachycephala 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 débris.

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 (18th 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 photographs, showing the heaps of confused débris 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 débris (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 débris. After the "shocks" the female received 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 débris, 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