(Menura Superba). 



HE Lyre Bird derives its name from 

 the peculiar shape of the male bird's 

 tail, which resembles in form a stringed musi- 

 cal instrument called the " Lyre," which was 

 much used in former times in other countries. 

 The blacks call the Lyre Bird Beleck Beleck, 

 and Boolangara. It lives in the brushes along 

 the coast, and near the coast range of moun- 

 tains generally ; and feeds upon various insects 

 which it finds by scraping the ground with its 

 feet like our domestic fowls do. It rarely flies 

 into trees, but builds a large deep nest on 

 ledges of rock, old stumps and fallen trees- 



