142 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
All are more or less migratory in their habits, some covering enormous distances in 
journeying to and fro between their winter retreats and their summer breeding-places. The 
COMMON SWALLOW and HOUSE-MARTIN, for example, leave the shores of Africa early in the 
spring, and distribute themselves over Europe, thousands visiting the British Islands. After 
rearing in their respective breeding-places from two to three broods, they return with their 
offspring before the rigours of winter set in to the African Continent. The routes and 
destinations of the swallow 
are now well known; but as 
much cannot be said for the 
house-martin, whose winter 
quartersare as yet enshrouded 
in mystery. That they must 
be somewhere in Africa is all 
that can at present be said. 
Three species of the 
Swallow Tribe visit England 
regularly every year, and re- 
main to breed. These are the 
YOUNG SWALLOWS COMMON or CHIMNEY-SWAL- 
For hundreds of years it has been regarded as most unlucky to kill a swallow Low, and the HOUSE-MARTIN 
just referred to, and the little 
SAND-MARTIN. In the two first mentioned the upper-parts are of a dark steel-blue colour 
with a metallic gloss, but they are, nevertheless, easily distinguished one from another, — since 
the swallow has a deeply forked tail, and a bright chestnut patch on the throat, with a 
similarly coloured band across the forehead; whilst the martin lacks the chestnut markings, and is 
pure white beneath, with a large white patch on the lower part of the back, and a less markedly 
forked tail. Furthermore, the legs of the martin are feathered down to the claws, whilst 
the feet of the swallow are bare. The sand-martin is a little greyish-brown bird, with white 
under-parts. It is the earliest of the Swallow Tribe to arrive in Britain, and the first to depart. 
Photo by ¥. T. Newman 
LYRE-BIRDS AND SCRUB-BIRDS 
At the beginning of the account of the Perching-birds it was stated that the group was 
divided into two sections, and that each of these was further sub-divided into two. With the 
Swallows the first sub-division of the first section ended; the second we are to consider now in 
the very singular LYRE-BIRDS and SCRUB-BIRDS of Australia. 
Rendered conspicuous on account of the remarkable lyrate tail, from which the name is 
derived, the LYRE-BIRDS, on closer acquaintance, prove to be exceedingly interesting forms, 
though materials for a really complete biography of the three known species are not yet 
available. The males, it seems, are skilled mimics, reproducing the songs of other birds with 
great fidelity, this being especially true of the species known as PRINCE ALBERYT’S LYRE-BIRD. 
During the courting-season the males construct hillocks, to which they resort to display their 
very beautiful and graceful tails, elevating them over the head, and drooping the wings after 
the fashion of a peacock, accompanying this display with certain spasmodic pecking and 
scratching actions. They are solitary birds, more than a pair never being seen together, and 
even these are exceedingly difficult to approach, stratagem always being necessary. Buta 
single egg is laid, which has the appearance of being smeared with ink; whilst the young 
bird differs from that of all other perching-birds in the thickness of its downy covering and 
the great length of time in which it remains in the nest. The nest, made of sticks, moss, 
and fibres skilfully interwoven, and lined inside with the leaf of a tree-fern which resembles 
horse-hair, is a large domed structure, with a single aperture serving as an entrance. 
Lyre-birds are essentially ground-dwellers, feeding upon insects, especially beetles and 
snails, and keeping to the wilder regions of the country. 
