380 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Lyre-Birds. 



ture, if not in size, closely approximate to the Me- 

 nura superba, most erroneously regarded by some 

 ornithoiopsti as one of the Gallinaceous order. It 

 is a song-bird of the Insessorial order, and is related 

 in some respects to certain forms of the Thrush 

 tribe, in other respects to some of the Wren. 



1479, 1480.— The Lybe-Bird 

 (Menura superba). It is to that eminent orni- 

 thologist Mr. Gould that we owe our knowledge of 

 the liabits of this species, which he himself dili- 

 gently investigated in its native country ; and we 

 shall therefore proceed, with his permission, to 

 transcribe his valuable observations. 



" Perhaps no bird has more divided the opinion 

 of ornithologists, as to the situation it should oc- 

 cupy in the natural system, than the Menura ; and 

 although more than fifty years have now elapsed 

 since the bird was discovered, little or no informa- 

 tion has been hitherto published respecting its 

 economy and habits, as ornithologists have had 

 only its external structure to guide them in their 

 opinions. Aware of this fact, I paid considerable 

 attention to the subject while in Australia, and alter 

 anfmute observation of the bird in a state of nature, 

 1 am decidedly of opinion that it has not, as has 

 been very generally considered, the most remote 

 relationship to the Gallinacese ; but that it forms, 

 with the American genera Pteroptochos, Scytalopus, 

 and their allied group, a family of the lusessorial 

 order, to which Troglodytes, Amytis, Stipiturus, 

 ^lalurus, Dasyomis, and Psophodes closely assi- 

 milate in their habits, and of which they will in all 

 probability be hereafter found to form a part. Not- 

 withstanding the great size of the Menura and the 

 extraordinary form of its tail, in almost every other 

 point it presents a striking resemblance to its minute 

 congeners: like them it possesses the bristles at 

 the base of the bill, but to a less extent, the same 

 unusual mass of loose, flowing hair-like feathers on 

 the back and rump, the same extraordinary power of 

 running and the like feebleness of flight; all which 

 will, I trust, render it evident that there are suffi- 

 cient grounds for the opinion I have here expressed. 

 Many intei-vening genera will, doubtless yet be dis- 

 covered to complete the series of affinities ; at all 

 events, if, as I am informed is the case, the young 

 of Menura are helpless and blind when hatched, it 

 cannot with propriety be placed with the Galli- 

 nacero. 



" In the structure of its feet, in its lengthened 

 claws, and in its whole contour, the lyre-bird pre- 

 sents the greatest similarity to the Pteroptochos 

 megapodius of Kittlitz. Another singular circum- 

 stance, by which their alliance is rendered still more 

 evident, is the fact that Pteroptochos differs from 

 the other families of the Insessorial order in having 

 fourteen feathere in its tail, and that Menura also 

 differs in the same particular in possessing sixteen. 

 The immense feet and claws of these two birds 

 admirably adapt them for the peculiar localities 

 they are destined to inhabit, and the same beautiful 

 modification of structure is observable in the other 

 genera, equally adapting them for the situations 

 they are intended to fulfil. Thus the Menura 

 passes with ease over the loose stones and the sides 

 of rocky gullies and ravines, while the Maluri trip 

 over the more open and even ground, and the Da- 

 syorni with equal facility thread the dense shrubs 

 and reed-beds. 



" The great stronghold of the lyre-bird is the co- 

 lony of New South Wales, and, from what I could 

 learn, its range does not extend so far to the east- 

 ward as Moreton Bay ; neither have I been able to 

 trace it to the westward of Port Philip, on the 

 southern coast ; but further research can alone 

 determine these points. It inhabits equally the 

 brushes on the coast, and those that clothe the 

 sides of the mountains in the interior ; on the coast 

 it is especially abundant at the Western Port and 

 lllawarra ; in the interior the cedar brushes of the 

 Liverpool range, and, according to Mr. G Bennett, 

 the mountains of the Tumat country, are among the 

 places of which it is a denizen. 



" Of all the birds I have ever met with, the Me- 

 nura is far the most shy and difficult to procure. 

 While among the mountains I have been sur- 

 rounded by these birds, pouring forth their loud 

 and liquid calls, for days together, without being 

 able to get a sight of them ; and it was only by the 

 most determined perseverance and extreme caution 

 that I was enabled to effect this desirable object ; 

 which was rendered more difficult by their often 

 frequenting the almost inaccessible and precipitous 

 sidea of gullies and ravines, covered with tangled 

 masses of creepers and umbrageous trees : the 

 cracking of a stick, the rolling down of a small 

 stone, or any other noise, however slight, is suffi- 

 cient to alarm it ; and none but those who have tra- 

 versed these rugged, hot, and suffociiting brushes, 

 can fully understand the excessive labour attendant 

 on the pursuit of the Menura. Independently of 

 climbing over rocks and fallen trunks of trees, the 



sportsman has to creep and crawl beneath and 

 among the branches with the utmost caution, taking 

 care only to advance when the bird's attention is 

 occupied in singing, or in scratching up the leaves 

 in search of food ; to watch its action it is neces- 

 sary to remain perfectly motionless, not venturing 

 to move even in the slightest degree, or it vanishes 

 from sight ns if by magic. Although I have said ; 

 so much on the cautiousness of the Menura, it is 

 nut always so alert; in some of the more accessible 

 brushes through which roads have been cut, it may 

 frequently be seen, and on horseback even closely ' 

 approached, the bird evincing less fear of those 

 animals than of man. i 



" At lllawarra it is sometimes successfully pur- j 

 sued by dogs trained to rush suddenly upon it, | 

 when it immediately leaps upon the branch ol a tree, 

 and its attention being attracted by the dog below 

 barking, it is easily approached and shot. Another 

 successful mode of procuring specimens is by wear- 

 ing a tail of a full-plumaged male in the hat, keep- 

 ing it constantly in motion, and concealing the per- 

 son among the bushes, when the attention of the 

 bird being arrested by the apparent intrusion of 

 another of its own sex, it will be attracted within 

 the range of the gun : if the bird be hidden from 

 view bv surrounding objects, any unusual sound, as 

 a shrill whistle, will generally induce him to show 

 himself for an instant, by causing him to leap with 

 a gay and sprightly air upon some neighbouring 

 branch to ascertain the cause of the disturbance ; 

 advantage must be taken of this circumstance im- 

 mediately, or the next moment it may be half way 

 down the gully. The Menura seldom, if ever, at- 

 tempts to escape by flight, but easily eludes pursuit 

 by its extraordinary power of running. None are 

 so efficient in obtaining specimens as the naked 

 black, whose noiseless and gliding steps enable him 

 to steal upon it unheard or unperceived, and with a 

 gun in his hand he rarely allows it to escape, and 

 in many instances he will even kill it with his own 

 weapons. 



" The lyre-bird is of a wandering disposition, and 

 although it probably keeps to the same brush, it is 

 constantly engaged in traversini; it from one end to 

 the other, from the mountain base to the top of the 

 gullies, whose steep and rugged sides present no 

 obstacle to its long legs and jiowerful muscular 

 thighs; it is also capable of perlbrmins extraordinary 

 leaps, and I have heard it stated that it will spring 

 ten feet perpendicularly from the ground. Among 

 its many curious habits, the only one at all ap- 

 proaching to those of the Gallinacese is that of 

 forming small round hillocks, which are constantly 

 visited during the day, and upon which the male is 

 continually tramping, at the same time erecting 

 and spreading out its tail in the most graceful 

 manner and uttering its various cries, sometimes 

 pouring forth it natural notes, at other mocking 

 those of other birds, and even the howling of the 

 native dog (Dingo). The early morning and the 

 evening are the periods when it is most animated 

 and active. 



" It may truly be said that the beauty of this bird 

 lies in the plumage of his tail, the new feathers of 

 which appear in February and March, but do not 

 attain their full beauty until June : during this and the 

 four succeeding months, it is in its finest state ; after 

 this the feathers are gradually shed, to be resumed 

 again at the period above stated. Upon reference 

 to my journal I find the following notes upon the 

 subject: — ' March 14, Liverpool range. — Several Me- 

 nuras killed to-day : their tails not so fine as they 

 will be. October 25. — I find this bird is now losing 

 its tail feathers, and judging from appearance, they 

 will be all shed in a fortnight.* 



" Although upon one occasion I forced this bird to 

 take wing, it was merely for the purpose of descend- 

 ing a gully, and I am led to believe that it seldom 

 exerts this power unless under similar circumstances. 

 It is particularly paitial to traversing the trunks of 

 fallen trees, and frequently attains a considerable 

 altitilde, by leaping from branch to branch. Inde- 

 pendently of a loud full note, which may be heard 

 reverberating over the gullies for at leitst a quarter 

 of a mile, it has also an inward warbling song, the 

 lower notes of which can only be heard within about 

 fifteen yards. It remains stationary while singing, 

 fully occupied in pouring forth its animated strain. 

 This it frequently discontinues abruptly and again 

 commences with a low, inward, snapping noise 

 ending with an imitation of the loud and lull note 

 of the satin-bird, and always accompanied by a 

 tremulous motion of the tail. 



'• The food of the Menura appears to consist princi- 

 pally of insects, particularly centipedes and coleo- 

 ptera ; I also found the remains of shelled snails in 

 the gizzard, which is very strong and muscular. 



" I regret that circumstances did not admit of my 

 acquiring a perfect knowledge of the nidification of 

 this very singular bird ; I never found the nest but 

 once, and this unfortunately was after the breed- 

 ing season was over; but all those of whom I made 



inquiries respecting it agreed in assuring me that it 

 is either placed on the ledge of a projecting rock, at 

 the base of a tree, or on the top of a stump, but 

 always near the ground ; and a cedar-cutter whom 

 I met in the brushes informed me that he had once 

 found a nest, which was built like that of a magpie, 

 adding that it contained but one egg. The natives 

 state that the eggs are two in number, of a light 

 colour, freckled with spots of red. The nest seen 

 by myself, and to which my attention was drawn by 

 ray black companion Natty, was placed on the pro- 

 minent point of a rock, in a situation quite secluded 

 from observation behind, but affording the bird a 

 commanding view and an easy retreat in front ; it 

 was deep and shaped like a basin, and had the ap- 

 pearance of having been roofed ; was of a large 

 size, formed outwardly of sticks, and lined with the 

 inner bark of trees and fibrous roots." 



The Menura equals a common pheasant in size, 

 but its limbs are longer in proportion, and its feet 

 much larger ; the toes are armed with large arched 

 blunt claws ; the hind-toe is as long as are the fore- 

 toes (the length of these being nearly equal), but its 

 claw is larger than that of any of the others; the 

 scales of the tarsi and toes are large bold plates, and 

 their colour is glossy black ; the head is small, the 

 beak, as Cuvier has described it, is triangular at the 

 base, pointed and compressed at the tip ; in the 

 male the feathers of the head are elongated into a 

 crest : the wings are short, concave, and rounded, 

 and the quill-feathers are lax and feeble ; the general 

 plumage is full, deep, soft, and downy. The tail is 

 modified into a beautiful long plume-like ornament, 

 representing, when erect and expanded, the figure 

 of a lyre, whence the name of lyre-bird. This orna- 

 mental tail is, however, confined to the male. In 

 the female the tail is long and graduated, and the 

 feathers are perfectly webbed on both sides of the 

 shaft, although their texture is soft and flowing. In 

 the male the tail consists of sixteen feathers ; of these 

 (see Fig. 1481 )the outer one on each side is broadly 

 but loosely webbed within, its outer web being 

 narrow ; as it proceeds it curves outwards, bends in, 

 and again turns boldly outwards and downwards, 

 both together resembling the framework of an 

 ancient lyre, of which the intermediate feathers are 

 the strings ; these feathers, except the two central, 

 which are truly but narrowly webbed on the outer 

 side, consist each of a slender shaft, with long fila- 

 mentous barbules, at a distance from each other, and 

 spring out alternately. The appearance of these 

 feathers, the length of which is about two feet, is 

 peculiarly graceful ; their colour is umber-brown, 

 but the two outer tail-feathers are grey tipped with 

 black, edged with rufous, and transversely marked 

 on the inner web with transparent triangular bars. 

 The general plumage of the Menura is umber-brown 

 above, tinged with olive, and merging into rufous on 

 the wings, and also on the throat." The under parts 

 are ashy grey. 



Family FRINGILLID^ (FINCHES). 



The Finches compose a very numerous assem- 

 blage of conirostral birds, which may be subdivided 

 into various minor groups, as Larks, Buntings, Lin- 

 nets, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Weaver-Birds, &c. ; each 

 group consisting of several genera, more or less im- 

 mediately related to each other. None of the Frin- 

 gillidae are of large size. They tenant fields, groves, 

 hedge-rows, and woodlands ; and many are noted for 

 their powers of song : hence they are often called 

 hard-billed warblers, in contradistinction to the Syl- 

 viadac, which, from the slenderness of their beaks, 

 are sometimes, though not very correctly, termed 

 soft-billed warblers. 



Varying in length and strength, the beaks of the 

 Fringillidae are all more or less conical, and are well 

 adapted lor a harder diet than that of the Sylviadae 

 generally : unless when nestlings, insects in fact 

 form only part of their food, grain of various kinds, 

 as wheat, oats, rice, together with the seeds of 

 plants, as of the thistle, the broom, the pea, ice, 

 constituting their chief support; from this circum- 

 stance, and their general hardiness, few or none of 

 our British Fringillidae are migratory, though they 

 are so in more northern latitudes, and it is well 

 known how in severe winters our flocks of native 

 laiks are increased in numbers by multitudinous 

 arrivals from the north. It is in the winter that 

 the siskin and redpole seek a temporary retreat in 

 our island. Most of the Fringillidae associate in 

 flocks during the winter, assiduously searching for 

 food, and sometimes joined by othei-s of a different 

 species. 



1450 (e).— The Skylark 

 {Alauda arvensis). Alouette des Champs, Tem- 

 minck ; Feld Lerche, Bechstein. This delightful 

 songster is spread generally over Europe, seve- 

 ral parts of Asia, and the north of Africa. Its fa- 

 vourite localities are exten.sive arable lands and 

 open meadows, but, according to Mr. Thompson, in 

 Ireland the wild mountain pasture is equally its 



