THE PRINCE OF MOCKING BIRDS 



the male bird when we had approached within a hundred 

 yards or so. That last hundred yards we did on hands and 

 knees, and in other undignified positions, carefully choosing 

 our opportunities for advancing while the bird was engaged 

 with his song. We successfully reached a spot within six 

 feet of him, and just outside the screen of bracken. 



The entertainment was continued for half-an-hour with 

 much prancing, bowing and scraping on the part of the fer- 

 vent male, and with imitations of perhaps a dozen different 

 bird calls. Every half minute or so he stopped suddenly, 

 as if he had detected danger, and listened intently. At first 

 we feared that our presence had been detected, but we soon 

 became aware that this pause, a well-defined habit of the 

 species, is a precautionary measure only. So long as the 

 observer remains silent and motionless during these inter- 

 vals, the danger of disturbing the Lyre Bird is as small as 

 with most other species. 



The object of this passionate display, we soon dis- 

 covered, was within a few yards of the spot, feeding uncon- 

 cernedly amongst the bracken in what must have been a 

 disappointingly heartless fashion. As to whether she were 

 satisfied with his lovemaking she made no sign. Probably 

 she wished him to believe that she neither noticed nor 

 understood it. Presently his song ended and he strode 

 solemnly into the bracken where the pair fed together 

 awhile. Fortune led them on one occasion across an open 

 space within four feet of where we lay. Although so close 

 that the soft earth disturbed in the course of their opera- 

 tions reached us, they were quite unconscious of our pres- 

 ence, a fact which directly negatives the popular conception 

 of their wariness. Eventually they were lost to sight down 

 the gully. We followed later in the hope of discovering a 

 nest, but were disappointed. 



The Lyre Bird is not difficult to describe. Were it not 

 for the remarkable tail of the male bird, there would not be 

 much in its appearance to attract attention. It is a plain 

 dark brown bird, about the size of the common domestic 

 fowl. The feet are very large and heavy, and well adapted 

 to their purpose of disturbing the soft loam and the crea- 

 tures that reside therein. It is the tail of the male, how- 

 ever which makes the bird. This consists of two 

 large brown and white feathers, arranged in such a 

 way as to form the outline of the lyre of olden times, from 



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