i8o STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



the gun is fired in a moment, he is half way down the valley. Indeed, shoot- 

 ing the lyre-bird is totally different to any other kind of sport, and the most 

 clever sportsman could do nothing unless he understood the nature of the 

 country and the habits of the bird. The native is by far the most expert 

 hunter of any. He likes to deck his hair with the plumage of the lyre-bird, 

 and to glide noiselessly among the bushes with a gun in his hand. So 

 cautious is he, and so silent, that he can always approach nearer to it than 

 any one else, and rarely suffers it to escape. 



Besides its running powers, the bird can take very wonderful leaps. At 

 one leap it can rise ten feet from the ground. Its habits are solitary ; but two 

 lyre-birds have been seen at play, chasing each other round and round, and 

 carrying their elegant tails in an upright position. It has also the habit of 

 making a round hillock, on which it comes every day and erects its tail, and 

 tramples the ground, and utters all its notes — sometimes mocking those of 

 other birds, and even making a howling noise like that of the dingo, or 

 native dog. 



Besides its loud full call, which may be heard echoing to a great distance, 

 it can sing the little song we have mentioned. The strain is otten broken off 

 suddenl)', and then resumed again. 



The nests are sometimes placed on the ledge of some projecting rock, or 

 on the stump of a tree, but always near the ground. One of the nests which 

 was seen by a naturalist was deep, and shaped like a bason, and lined with 

 the bark of trees and fibrous roots. 



THE PHEASANT. 



The pheasant family contains large and handsome birds, with beautiful 

 plumage, and white tender flesh, that is much sought after as a delicacy. 

 The male birds wear by far the most gorgeous array, and sometimes shine in 

 plumage of gold and silver. But it is a curious fact that the hen bird, when 

 she is getting old, will often assume the beautiful colours and gay plumage of 

 her mate, and become a sort of natural curiosity. 



Next to the peacock, the pheasant carries away the palm in beauty, 



