300 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



and do not droop gracefully like those of the latter bird 

 but stand up and represent the strino^s of the lyre. 



The menura is a ground-loving bird, and has very 

 strong legs and feet. The nest is large, domed, and placed 

 on the ground, under the shelter of some overhanging 

 bush ; only one egg appears to be laid, and the young one 

 grows slowl}'', but it is able to run swiftly long before it can 



fly- 



The food consists of insects, such as beetles, centipedes, 

 scorpions, and also snails. 



It somewhat resembles the bower-bird in its habit of 

 making " play-grounds," in and on which it is in the habit 

 of spending a good deal of its time ; but it is exceedingly 

 wary, and can rarely be discovered when engaged in its 

 amusement. 



It has a sweet song of its own, and, in addition, possesses 

 great imitative powers. So far it has been found im- 

 possible to preserve it for any length of time in captivity. 



Fam i ly — Menu ndcc. 



Genus — Menura. J/, superba. Lyre Bird. 



M. albert i. Prince Albert's 



Lyre Bird. 



This last differs from Superba in having a less developed 

 tail. 



THE NIGHTJARS. 



The MoREPORK, or Podargus, is another very singular 

 bird of pretty frequent occurrence in all parts of Australia > 

 it is, in fact, a kind of goatsucker, and, like that bird, 

 nocturnal in its habits. No sound is more familiar to the 

 bushman than its weird cry, which is supposed to resemble 



