PLATE XX "VI. 



MENURA ALBEETI (Gould). 



PRINCE ALBERT'S LYRE-BIRD. 



TT^OR a long time the only species known of this genus was the Menura Superba, but another was 

 discovered among the brushes of the northern part of New South Wales, to which Gould gave 

 the name of Menura Alberti. 



In habits and general economy it is exactly like its congener, in fact, the only differences 

 consist in the rufous colouring of the plumage, and in the somewhat different shape of the tail, the 

 outer feathers, which in Menura Superba are the longest, being in this bird the shortest. 



The nest is composed of sticks, lined with fine roots, and is placed generally in the fork of 

 a tree, near the ground, or on the ledge of a rock. The single egg which is laid is bluish-grey in 

 colour, blotched with very dark brown. 



The male has the crown of the head and back of the neck, black ; the upper surface and 

 wings, reddish-brown ; throat, rusty red ; under surface, grey ; upper surface of the outer tail-feathers, 

 black ; under surface, silvery-grey, the two centre tail-feathers much longer than the others, and 

 crossing each other at the base ; they are webbed only on one side ; the irides are dark red ; bill, 

 legs, and feet, black. 



The female has not the peculiarly shaped tail, but in other respects is similar to the male. 

 Habitat : Northern part of New South Wales. 



