BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



which the name of the bird is derived. Two strong centre 

 feathers, and several white filmy ones complete the design. 

 The tail of the female is long and of the same colour as the 

 rest of her plumage. Both birds, when moving through 

 the undergrowth, carry the tail in a line with the body. 

 The Lyre Bird is not a strong flier. It specialises in silent 

 down-hill glides, during which the wings are vibrated little. 

 We have not seen the bird fly uphill, or upward at all, more 

 than a few feet at a time. 



It behoves Australians to see that the law which was 

 framed to protect these birds against their greatest enemy 

 — man — is honoured in the spirit and the letter. The 

 system which allows a collector — even should he be a 

 genuine scientist — to obtain a permit to destroy a species of 

 such interest and of such numerical weakness, requires re- 

 vision — and that promptly. 



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