CHARACTERISTIC BIRDS. 
205 
Goatsuckers, possessing, indeed, the peculiarities of the 
former, and their habits, quite as much as they remind 
us of the latter. The Goatsuckers are found in our 
quarter of the globe, although some species may be met 
with in the larger Asiatic Islands. 
The forests of the Southern Archipelago are, it is true, 
not rich in good songsters: they have some, however; 
and these bear but little resemblance to those found 
in other parts of the world. Amongst them may be 
reckoned the Pittas ( Pittidce ); which, although found 
elsewhere, exhibit their highest state of development only 
in the Southern Archipelago : these birds give rise to 
much diversity of opinion as regards their scientific 
position. They belong to the Thrushes, but are exceed¬ 
ingly singular in their structure, and their habits are 
not less so. They are not strictly related, but, in 
exterior appearance, form a sharply-defined family, 
while they have a strong natural resemblance to each 
other, both in form and colouring. The most remarkable 
songster in all the Southern Archipelago is the far-famed, 
and in every respect most singular bird, the Lyre-bird 
(.Menura superha). It is about the size of a Pheasant, and, 
with its allied species, forms a distinct family. It is one 
of those creatures which will fit in with no system, owing 
to the difficulty of assigning it a proper place. Formerly 
it was classed with the Pheasants; now-a-days it is 
regarded as a singing bird, from its manner of life and 
habits of action. It is included amongst the Mocking¬ 
birds of its native home, and possesses the gift of 
imitating sounds of every kind, in a manner that is most 
misleading. Like the American Mocking-bird, it can 
mimic the dog’s bark, a man’s laugh, the songs and cries 
of numerous birds, a child’s screams, and similar sounds. 
