306 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



the head necessary for swallowing the grubs. It scarcely 

 ever took water. It reposed in a nest made of moss, and 

 lined with opossum-skin, where it appeared quite contented. 

 While asleep, the head was covered by one of the wings. 

 When called ' BuUan-Bullan ' it awoke, looking for several 

 seconds at the disturber, and soon put its head again under 

 the wing, taking no notice whatever of other sounds or voices. 

 A proof that the young of this bird often remain for a long 

 time in their natural nest may be found in the manner in 

 which they dispose of their droppings. The young captive 

 always went backwards before discharging its dung, as if 

 afraid of soiling the nest. It is probable that in its natural 

 state and during daytime it leaves the nest, when the warmth 

 of the weather invites it, but during the night, and if cold 

 weather sets in, the mother will be with her young. 



" Notwithstanding all the care bestowed upon this poor 

 little bird, it died on the eighth day of its captivity, appa- 

 rently in consequence of the excessively cold weather which 

 set in, and which was even keenly felt by the possessor of the 

 bird himself. At this time the young Menura had begun to 

 change its plumage, feathers taking the place of the down 

 with which it was previously covered ; and the legs, enveloped 

 in a sort of scaly scurf, which fell ofiP as the bird grew older, 

 already were of a blackish colour. 



" There is no doubt that the Lyre-bird could be easily 

 introduced into our menageries ; they only require care while 

 young, and, when full-grown and tamed, may be shipped to 

 England with as little difficulty as any other Australian bird, 

 none of which, however, offer such attractions as the Me- 

 nura." 



