196 ALBERT'S LYRE-BIRD. 



The same writer, in a recent communication to the Zoological Society, mentions the dis- 

 covery of a nest of the Lyre-bird, containing a nearly adult young bird of sixteen inches in 

 height. In spite of its large size, it was a most helpless creature, and seemed to be quite 

 incapable of escape, even with the assistance of its mother, who with devoted courage tried to 

 withdraw it from its enemies, and laid down her life in the attempt. 



The young Lyre-bird displayed no fear of its captors, but was easily induced to follow 

 any one when allured by the imitation of the mother's cry. It fed well, its chief articles of 

 diet being worms, ants, and their larvte. For water it seemed to care but little, and seldom, if 

 ever, was seen engaged in drinking. Although tended with great care, and its wants well 

 supplied, this interesting captive died within eight days after it was taken. Dr. Bennett 

 remarks of the young Lyre-bird, that when it is able to leave the nest it is very swift of foot, 

 and as it mstinctively conceals itself under rocks and among the densest thickets, its capture 

 is a difficult task even for a native. 



Of the adult bird, the same writer speaks as follows : — 



" I first saw these birds in the mountain range of the Tximat country ; lately they have 

 been very abundant among the Blue Mountain ranges bordering on the Nepean river, above 

 Emeu Plains (about thirty-five miles from Sydney). They are remarkably shy, very difficult 

 of approach, frequenting the most inaccessible rocks and gullies, and on the slightest disturb- 

 ance they dart off with surprising swiftness through the brakes, carrying their tail horizon- 

 tally ; but this appears to be for facilitating their passage through the bushes, for when they 

 leap or spring from branch to branch as they ascend or descend a tree, the tail approaches to 

 the perpendicular. On watching them from an elevated position, playing in a gully below, 

 they are seen to form little hillocks or mounds, by scratching up the ground around them, 

 trampling and running ilightily about, uttering their loud shrill calls, and imitating the notes 

 of various birds." 



The nest of the Lyre-bird is a large, loosely-buUt, domed structure, composed of small 

 sticks, roots, and leaves, and of an oven-like shape, the entrance being in front. The lining is 

 warm and soft, being composed of downy feathers. 



The egg of this singular bird is quite as curious as its general form, and presents the 

 curious anomaly of an egg as large as that of a common fowl, possessing all the characteristics 

 of the insessorial egg. The general color of the egg is a deep chocolate tint, marked with 

 purple more or less deep in different specimens, and its surface is covered with a number of 

 stains and blotches of a darker hue, which are gathered towards the larger end, as is usual in 

 spotted eggs. 



Another species of Lyre-bird has been discovered, which is called Albert's Lyre-bird 

 {Memira alberti), in compliment to the Prince Consort. This species may be known by the 

 comparative shortness of the lyre-shaped tail-feathers, and the absence of dark bars upon 

 the web. 



Dr. Stephenson, in speaking of this bird, says : — 



"The locality it frequents consists of mountain ridges, not very densely covered with 

 brush ; it passes most of its time on the ground, feeding and stnitting about with the tail 

 reflected over the back to within an inch or two of the head, and with the wings drooping on 

 the ground. Each bird forms for itself three or four 'corroboring places,' as the sawyers 

 call them ; they consist of holes scratched in the sandy ground, about two and a half feet in 

 diameter, by sixteen, eighteen, or twenty inches in depth, and about three or four hundi'ed 

 yards apart, or even more. 



" Whenever you get sight of the bird, which can only be done with the greatest caution 

 and by taking advantage of intervening objects to shelter yourself from its observation, you 

 will find it in one or other of these holes, into whicli it frequently jumps and seems to be feed- 

 ing ; then ascends again and struts round and round the place, imitating with its powerful 

 musical voice any bird that it may chance to hear around it. The notes of the Dacelo gigantea, 

 or laughing jackass, it imitates to perfection ; its own whistle is exceedingly beautiful and 

 varied. No sooner does it perceive an intruder, than it flies up into the nearest tree, first 



