Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union

“ White-fronted Scrub-Wren (Sericornis frontalis) , Lewin's Honey-eater (Ptilotis chrusotis) , &c.; and when imitating the note of the Yellow-throated Scrub-Wren these fussy little birds came over to the heap of débris and sat on a twig over the Atrichornis as it called out beneath them. The loud alarm note of the Spine-tailed Log-runner it very frequently utters to perfection, and it is most difficult to discriminate which bird is calling—an Atrichornis or a Log-runner. ”

“ I have always noticed that this noisy little bird inhabits the most impenetrable parts of the scrub, and where the undergrowth is thick and the ground is strewn in many places with great masses of débris, consisting of an accumulated entanglement of trees, branches, vines, and other rubbish (see photos.) ”

“ I went quietly in the direction of the sound and towards an immense mass (No. 1 mass in plan) of fallen trees and other scrub débris, and hid behind a rosewood (Dysoxylon fraseranum) log. Very soon the shrill note issued from the confused mass of débris and only about 10 feet away. The bird was moving about, mouse-like, amongst this heap of rubbish in the heart of the scrub (see photo.) ”

“ Getting another sight of the female Atrichornis to-day pleased me very much, and it was my intention to carefully watch, and later on remove and thoroughly search this mass for No. 2 nest; I would then lose no opportunity of shooting the female. If No. 2 nest should be in one of these huge masses of débris, then the chances of finding it are very remote indeed, for to remove one of these large heaps of confused rubbish and trees is a big undertaking (see photos.) ”

“ What I really required in the first place was a heavy iron hoop, with the net attached, so that when it was placed over the nest it would press its way through the surrounding grass and go right down flat on the ground. There can certainly be no doubt that the bird got away owing to the space between the rather limp ring of the net and the ground. Certainly I could have cleared a space all around the tuft of grass, and so let the net go flush to the ground, but the chances were that the bird would never have gone near the place again. ”

“ Playground of Lyre-Bird (Menura superba) , near where the male Scrub-Bird (Atrichornis rufescens) daily frequented.
FROM A PHOTO. BY S. W. JACKSON, SYDNEY.
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 wings are unusually small, and when folded have the same appearance as those of the Lyre-Bird. The legs are strong, and, strange to say, the three front toes of the right foot were missing, evidently having been lost for some time by accident. ”