THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
signed as drawn by himself in 1799 and this seems to be the only bird Davies 
described, though Latham continually quotes Davies’ collection for species 
he proposed, and the conclusion is that Latham drew up the description and 
name for Davies and then introduced it into his Index and Supplement, which 
were published first. It will be noticed that the vernacular Superb Menura 
was used by both, but for some unknowti reason Latham wrote New 
Holland Menura and latinised it as M. novcehollandice when preparing the 
Index. The species received half a dozen names by the earher workers, 
who objected to the combinations already proposed, though the vernacular 
was practically unchallenged. 
Gould’s account of the life-history of the bird in New South Wales is 
here again presented, as most of the recent notes have been in connection 
with the southern subspecies. Thus Gould wrote : “ The principal habitat 
of the Menura superha is New South Wales, and from what I could learn, 
its range does not extend so far to the eastward as Moreton Bay, nor have 
I been able to trace it to the westward of Port Philip. It appears to inhabit 
alike the brushes on the coast and those that clothe the sides of the mountains 
m the interior. In the interior the cedar brushes of the Liverpool Range 
and, according to Dr. Bennett, the mountains of the Tumat country are 
among the places Of its resort. Of aU the birds I have ever met with, the 
Menura Is by far the most shy and difficult to procure. While among the 
brushes I have been surrounded by these birds, pouring forth their loud and 
liquid calls, for days together, without being rable to get a sight of them ; and 
it was only by the most determined perseverance that I was enabled to effect 
this to me desirable object, which was rendered the more difficult by their 
often frequenting the almost inaccessible and precipitous sides of gulhes and 
ravines, covered with tangled masses of creepers and umbrageous trees ; the 
cracking of a stick, the rolling down of a small stone, or any other noise, 
however shght, is sufficient to alarm them ; and none but those who have 
traversed the rugged, hot and suffocating brushes can fully understand the 
excessive labour attendant on the pursuit of the Menura. Those who wish even 
to sight it must only advance when the bird’s attention is occupied in singing, 
or in scratching up the leaves in search of food. To watch its actions, it is 
necessary to remain perfectly motionless, or it vanishes from sight as if by 
magic. But the Menura is not always so alert ; for in some of the more 
accessible brushes through which roads have been cut, it may frequently be 
seen, and on horseback even closely approached, the bird apparently evincing 
less fear of those animals than of man when thus unaccompanied. 
The Lyre-Bird is of a wandering disposition, and although it keeps to the 
same brush, it is constantly traversing it from one end to the other, from 
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