4 
does not I think very naturally commend itself to the judgment of 
any one, and it is only by considering the peculiarities which truly 
do in some manner simulate certain characteristics of the Wrens that 
the analogy or supposed relationship has any force. But while due 
weight is given to the facts which appear to bring Menura and 
Malurus in juxtaposition, we must not forget that there are other and 
perhaps far weightier reasons for removing both Menura and several 
other birds — as Ortbonyx, and perhaps Psophodes — from their present 
location. The very aspect of Menura is gallinaceous. Take away the 
long flowing plumes of the tail and what have we ? Why little else 
than a barn-door fowl ; and certainly as closely assimilating to that 
bird as the Tallegalla, Leipoa, or the Megapodius. The most striking 
and peculiar function which I would attach to the mound-making birds 
and Menura, is that of scratching ; and we know that the M. Superba, 
as described in Mr. Bawnsley’s interesting paper, will readily tear to 
pieces with its powerful feet the rotten trunk of a fallen tree in per- 
suit of its food — centipedes and insects. But if it should be hereafter 
proved that the Menura itself — or, at least, the Queensland species — 
actually makes a mound, the reason for uniting the Lyre Birds and the 
Mound Builders will be greatly strengthened ; and the particular habit 
of them all in seeking for their food after the manner of the Gallinacese, 
by scratching, will be sufficiently suggestive to the thoughtful 
naturalist. I will now relate some information which I have lately 
had brought to my notice by Mr. J. T. Cockerell, and which I truly 
hope our Vice-President (Mr. Coxen) will have in his power to verify 
on some favorable occasion shortly when he visits that neighborhood. 
Early in December, Mr. Cockerell went to the Coomera Banges 
for the purpose of procuring specimens of Menura Alberti. He was 
informed by some sawyers, and especially by a Mr. Arthur Binstead, 
that three Lyre Birds were feeding near the spot where they were 
working. He went to the place, but the birds were too wary for him, 
and he was only able to hear their whistle as they took their departure. 
He examined the spot where they had been, and perceived the ground 
scratched about in all directions, and a small quantity of dirt and 
leaves heaped together. On a subsequent visit he was equally 
unsuccessful, but a week or more afterwards he succeeded in shooting 
a male at the spot where he had seen the heap of dirt and leaves, but 
which he found was much larger than before, and looked like the 
mound of a Tallegalla, but not so large, and differing in having no 
sticks in its composition, like the mound of the brush turkey, or 
Tallegalla. It was a much neater structure altogether. Some 
aboriginals, as well as the individuals before alluded to, confirmed Mr. 
Cockerell’s suspicions, and asserted positively that the mound was 
doubtless the workmanship of the bird which he had shot — a fact 
which had been long known to them ; that the eggs were three in 
number, and were deposited at a depth of a foot or so, were cream 
colored spotted with brown, and not so large as those of the turkey, 
as they call it. They informed Mr. Cockerell that the habit of the 
