Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1880 — The Lyre Bird. [ARTICLE]

The Lyre Bird.

One of nature’s singular and beantifril freaks is found embodied iu the lyre bird, an inhabitant of the mountains of Australia. It seems strange enough to find this large bird, classed with the wren family, those tiny warblers of English hedgerows, but science pronounces them of similar construction, however different in appearance. The name of lyre bird Ims been bestowed on account of the resemblance of the. tail feathers of th e male to an ancient lyre, but the natives of Australia call it bulten bullen, in imitation of its wild, shrill cry. The color ofits plumage is rich rather than brilliant Mostly or a dark brownish gray.it is brightened by red on the throat and the short feathers at the base of the taiL It is very shy in its habits, choosing haunts among the thickly-wooded cliffs which are almost inaccessible to the most daring banter. Its nest is generally placed in the crotch of some tree very near thv ground, as it is not a bird or lofty flight, and loves best to hide among: the low undergrowth of the forest. Its best is roughly built of sticks and leaves,; of a

round form, with the entrance on one side, and seen from a little-distance resembles a heap of forest rubbish tumbled together by chance; but, inside, nothing could exceed the softness and delicacy of the feather lining supplied by the mother bird. In this downy nest she deposits one single egg of ashy gray spotted with brown. As she only nests once a lear, it is natural these birdsjshould not • very numerous. They are generally found in isolated pairs, and the male iealously resents any infringement upon his domain, fighting with a good will any other suitor that may dare to cast eyes on his lady. This jealously is often made use of by the natives to entrap the bird. They fasten a tail from some captured bint upon the head, and conceal themselves in the bushes, more sufficiently to give a natural swaying motion to' the feathers. When the male sees the apP«snujce of a supposed rival, he advances, furious for battle, and fells an easy prey to the hunter, "

barking all dogs, even an imitation or the rough, rasping nolae of tii* aaw, mingled with notes of all kind of hArda, and at interbetrayedtoslyra bird aa tba imitative singer. Efforts have bean made to raise the young of the lyre bird* bat they In-