THE LYIIE-BTRD. 191 



it constantly in motion, and concealing the person among the brushes, when the attention 

 of the bird being arrested by the apparent intrusion of another of its own sex, it will be 

 attracted within the range of the gun. If the bird be hid from view by surrounding 

 objects, a shrill whistle, or any other unusual sound, will generally induce it to show 

 itself for an instant, by causing it to leap with a gay and sprightly air upon some 

 neighbouring branch, to ascertain the cause of the disturbance, when it easily becomes 

 the prey of an expert shot. 



" It is much to be regretted," Mr. Bennett justly remarks, "that himian beings are 

 so eager to destroy, even to extermination, the races of animals, useful or dangerous, 

 which may be found in a new country. In the settled parts of a colony, the hai-mless 

 kangaroos and emus are rarely seen, when they might be easily domesticated about the 

 habitations. The same remark applies to the l3^re pheasant. Why are they not domes- 

 ticated before, by extermination, they are lost to us for ever ?" 



These birds build in old hollow trunks of trees which are lying on the ground, or in the 

 holes of rocks. The nest is merely formed of dried grass, or dried leaves scraped together. 

 The female lays from twelve to sixteen eggs, of a white colour, with a few scattered 

 light blue spots. One nest was observed placed on a prominent point of a rock, in a 

 situation quite secure from observation from behind, but affording the bird a commanding 

 view and easy retreat in front. It was of large size, formed outwardly of sticks ; it was 

 deep and basin-shaped, and lined inwardly with the inner bark of trees and fibrous roots ; 

 and it had the appearance of having been roofed. 



The lyre bird is of a wandering disposition, and though keeping probably to the same 

 brush, it constantly traverses it from one end to the other, from the mountain-top to the 

 bottom of the gullies. It is said to be able at one leap to pass over as much as ten feet 

 in a perpendicular direction from the groimd. It seldom takes wing, but is fond of 

 traversing trunks of fallen trees, and frequently reaches a considerable height, by leaping 

 from branch to branch. 



Solitary in its habits, it sometimes shows a different disposition. On one occasion Mr. 

 Gould saw two males at play ; they were chasing each other round and round with 

 extraordinary rapidity, pausing every now and then to utter their loud shrill calls. 

 While thus occupied they carried their tails horizontally, as they always do when moving 

 quicklj- through the brush, that being the only jjosition in which this large organ could 

 be conveniently borne at such times. 



The Ij're bird has a habit, similar to that of some others, of forming small round 

 hillocks, which are constantly visited by day, and on which the male is continually 

 trampling, at the same time gracefully erecting and spreading out its tail, uttering its 

 various cries, jjom-ing forth its natural notes, mocking those of other bii'ds, and even 

 imitating the barking of the native dog. It has not only a loud full call, which may be 

 heard reverberating over the gullies at a considerable distance, but an inward and varied 

 song, the notes of which can only be heard within a few yards of the bird. This 

 animated strain is frequently broken off abruptly, and again resumed with a low, inward, 

 and snapping noise, ending with an imitation of the loud and full note of the satin-bird, 

 and always accompanied with a tremidous motion of the tail. 



