The Lyre-bird 77 



When proceeding through the brush-wood the male 

 Lyre-bird carries his tail horizontally, but on his playing- 

 ground it is erected and displayed to its fullest capacity. 

 The dancing-ground is a small round hillock, according to 

 Gould, on which the male is constantly trampling, at the 

 same time erecting and spreading his tail in the most 

 graceful manner, sometimes pouring out his own natural 

 notes, at others mocking those of other birds, and even the 

 howling of the Dingo. The nest is a domed structure, and 

 not unlike that of a gigantic Wren's nest. The nestling 

 is an extraordinary little creature for a young Passerine 

 bird, for it is covered with dense fluffy down, like that of a 

 Storm-Petrel. No other Perching Bird has such a nestling, 

 and that alone is sufficient to show that, independently of 

 their wonderful tail-ornament, the Lyre-birds have other 

 peculiarities which justify their being placed in a separate 

 Order of Birds, Menura. Queen Victoria's Lyre-bird is 

 said to construct a nest in every way recalling that of our 

 European Dipper, which makes not only a real nest but an 

 outer structure as well. It builds a small nest of strong 

 fine roots, lined with feathers, and about five inches high 

 and ten inches in diameter. The outer covering is composed 

 of sticks, grass, and moss and leaves, and forms a projection 

 over the genuine nest, the opening of which is in the side, 

 and Dr. Becker says that the female always enters back- 

 wards, with her tail laid over her back, and with watchful 

 eye and ear, keeps her head in the direction of the opening. 

 A nestling is described by the same observer, as still 

 covered with down, though it was a bird of more than a 

 foot in length, and had feet nearly as big as those of its 

 parent. It is evident that the young Lyre-birds must 

 remain in the nest for a considerable time in a helpless 

 condition, as the specimen in question lived with Dr. 

 Becker for eight days, during most of which time it slept 

 in a nest of moss, and became quite tame, accepting all 



