THE SINGING BIRDS. 235 



eludes pursuit by its extraordinary powers 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 ; with a gun in his hand he rarely allows it to escape, and in many instances he will even 

 kill it with his own clumsy weapons. The Lyre Bird is of a wandering disposition, and, although it 

 probably keeps to the same jungle, it is constantly engaged in traversing 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 powerful muscular thighs. It is also capable of performing 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 approaching to those of the Gallinacea? 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 its natural notes ; at others imitating those 

 of other birds, and even the howling of the native dog (dingo). The early morning and evening are 

 the periods when it is most animated and active. Although upon one occasion I forced this bird to 

 take wing, it was merely for the purpose of descending a gully, and I am led to believe that it 

 seldom exerts this power unless under similar circumstances. It is particularly partial to traversing 

 the trunks of fallen trees, and frequently attains a considerable altitude by leaping from branch to 

 branch. Independently of a loud full note, which may be heard reverberating over the gullies for 

 at least 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 whilst 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 full note of the Satin Bird, and 

 always accompanied by a tremulous motion of the tail. The food of the Menura appears to consist 

 principally of insects, particularly of centipedes and coleoptera. I also found the remains of shelled 

 snails in the gizzard, which is very strong and muscular." 



" I first," continues Mr. Gould, " saw these birds in the mountain range of the Tumat 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 

 disturbance, they dart off with surprising swiftness through the brakes, carrying their tail horizontally ; 

 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, their 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 flightily about, 

 uttering their loud, shrill call, and imitating the notes of various birds." 



The following account of a young Lyre Bird was received by Mr. Gould from Ludwig Becker : — 

 "In the month of October, 1858, the nest of a Lyre Bird was found in the densely-wooded 

 ranges near the sources of the river Yarra-Yarra. It contained a bird which seemed at first to be 

 an old one in a sickly condition, as it did not attempt to escape, but it was soon discovered to be 

 a young bird of very large size as compared with its helplessness. When taken out of the nest it 

 screamed loudly, the note being high, and sounding like ' tching-tching.' In a short time the mother- 

 bird, attracted by the call, arrived, and, notwithstanding the proverbial shyness of the species, flew 

 within a few feet of her young, and tried in vain to deliver it from captivity, by flapping her wings 

 and making various rapid motions in different directions towards the captor. A shot brought 

 down the poor bird, and, with its mother near it, the young Menura was silent and quiet. It was 

 taken away, and kept at a ' mia-mia ' erected in the midst of the surrounding forest. 



