290 THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
paradise species, since appearance, rather than habits, is considered in the classifi¬ 
cation of the paradisea genera. This magnificent bird is native to New South 
Wales, and its range is restricted to the region lying between Port Phillip and 
Moreton Bay, where it is said to be fairly plentiful. Of this elegant bird Mr. 
Bennett writes: “I first saw these birds in the mountain range of the Tumat 
county; lately the}' have been very abundant among the Blue Mountain ranges 
thirty-five miles from Sidney. They are remarkably shy, very difficult to 
approach, frequenting the most inaccessible rocks and gullies, and on the slightest 
disturbance they dart off with surprising swiftness through the brakes, carrying 
their tails horizontally; but this appears to be for facilitating their passage 
through the brush, for when they leap or spring from branch to branch as they 
ascend or descend a tree the 
tail approaches the perpen¬ 
dicular. On watching them 
from an elevated position, 
playing in a gully below, 
they are seen to form little 
hillocks or mounds, by 
scratching up the ground 
around them, trampling and 
running flightily about, utter¬ 
ing their loud, shrill call, 
and imitating the notes of 
various birds.” 
The nest of the lyre¬ 
bird is a large, loosely built, 
domed structure, composed 
of sticks, roots and leaves in¬ 
terwoven, and is oven-shaped, 
with the entrance in front. 
The lining is of down or 
other soft substance. A pe¬ 
culiarity of this bird is found 
in its reluctance to take flight, 
for though perhaps the most 
timid of birds, it trusts almost 
entirely to its legs to con¬ 
vey it beyond danger. As a 
runner it probably has no equal, and as its haunts are in the densest coverts, 
into which it can plunge out of sight almost upon the instant, a sight of the 
bird is not easily gained. The color of this bird is dull and by no means in¬ 
viting, but the shape of its tail is magnificently beautiful, resembling nothing 
so much as a lyre, from whence the name is taken. Though not a songster, 
it has the power of imitation very greatly developed, being able not only to 
mimic birds, but certain animals also. 
Bird of the Gods (Epimachus magnus) is the name given to one of the 
most superbly beautiful paradise species inhabiting New Guinea. The body is 
small, but the tail feathers are so long that from point of beak to tip of tail 
the length is four feet. To quote from Mr. Lesson: “ To add to the singu- 
