3 
Paper II. 
HABITS OF MENURA ALBERTI AMD A DESCRIPTION OF FOUR NEW 
AUSTRALIAN BIRDS- 
Paper read by Me. S. Diggles beeoee the Queensland Philo- 
sophical Society, 29th January, 1874. 
It is well known to the members of this society that in consequence 
of the crisis which took place in the commercial world about seven 
years ago, I was compelled to discontinue the work on which I was 
then engaged, entitled, “ The Ornithology of Australia.” The list of 
subscribers to that publication fell almost suddenly from 90 to 60, and 
rendered the bringing it out a matter of such serious responsibility 
that I was forced to discontinue it, until circumstances should arise 
favorable to its resumption. I have been in hopes that some one 
would be found willing to assist me in completing the work, which had 
been favorably received by the subscribers generally, and regretfully 
discontinued by so many in consequence of the circumstances to which 
I have alluded. But as yet no one has come forward having the 
necessary means at command to enable me to complete a work for 
which I have ample materials in my possession, having since that 
period been adding from all available sources information (including 
drawings) concerning Australian birds, some of which are new to us. 
W orks of such magnitude and importance are not generally under- 
taken by private individuals. The G-overnments of different countries 
m Europe have not considered it beneath their dignity to assist authors 
to bring out some of the first works on natural history which have yet 
appeared. Erom the large amount of skilled drawing and artistic 
colouring required in the illustration of such works and without which 
indeed they would be almost useless, they are seldom undertaken 
without such help as that to which I have referred. As time pro- 
gresses I see little immediate hope of a change, so far as bringing out 
or continuing the work in this country is concerned, and the greater is 
the pity, since by my own unaided efforts one third of the estimated 
amount was actually accomplished, and it remains to be seen whether 
those now at the head of affairs in Queensland will consider themselves 
justified in giving a helping hand towards its completion. But I have 
perhaps dwelt too much on this topic, which, though of personal interest, 
will, I am sure, meet with your kind consideration, and I will now pro- 
ceed to detail certain facts which have come to my knowledge, and 
which, if proved to be true, will be of much interest to the naturalist. 
A good deal remains to be known concerning our species of Lyre Bird 
or “ Menura Alberti,” and all information concerning the habits and 
economy of so interesting a bird must be gladly hailed from any 
quarter, more especially if it should be found to indicate in a clearer 
manner than hitherto the particular relationship of the Menura with 
other birds supposed to be far removed from it. The assertion of the 
late Mr. Bawnsley that the Lyre Bird is nearly related to the family 
of the Wrens (Maluri), &c, of which it is the most gigantic species, 
