File:Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon (1901) (14563755967).jpg

Identifier: nestseggsofaustr01camp (find matches)
Title: Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Campbell, Archibald James, 1853-
Subjects: Birds -- Eggs Australia Birds -- Nests Australia Birds -- Australia
Publisher: Sheffield, Printed for the author by Pawson & Brailsford
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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reared inthe same country with them. As to imitating chopping, sawing,cooeing, &c., it is the same as the wonderful things the old bushmentell us about—snakes chasing them, and Jackasses all congi-egating ina tree to laugh at them when their diay gets stuck in the mud. As I have already mentioned, it is commonly known that the malebird possesses a httle mound of earth, or hillock, or possibly more,which the bud scrapes up usually in the thickest of ground scnib.Upon this mound (which is about three feet in chameter) it capers anddances, also proudly drooping its wings and displaying its elegant tail,all the while poiu-ing forth its vaiied songs. Between periods therecomes from the throat a sjaasmodii buzzing or purring noise, while thetail with qiuvoring quills is expanded or reflected over the back. The food of the Lyre Bird consists piincipally of beetles, centipedes,scorpions, wonns, land-crabs, and snails, and occasionally somethingmore substantial in the shape of bush mice.
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NEST OK THE VICTORIA LYKE BIRD. Fiom a Hholu by the Autho \ .VESTS AMD EGGS OF .WSTKALIAX lilKDS. 323 My Iliend Mr. R. C. Chandler tells some extraordinar) bushyarns, yet I think he has not drawn the long-bow in the followingtwo instances. Twice he noticed an albino cock bird in the Bass Riverdistrict. It sang most melodiously and was a lovely creature. It-s purewhite plumage contrasted woudcrfuUy with the eyes, bill and legs,which were black, wliilc the tail was lai-ge, well formed, and of theusual coloiur. On one occasion he witnessed two male birds fighting. Likeroosters, they freely used their claws and bills, and in their excitementoccasionally tripped over their tails. It was mculioncd in the School Paper, Class 111., May, 1896,that Mr. S. McNeilly, of Drouin, had stated he kept a pet Lyre Birdfor more than cloven yeais. For six years the tail was like that ofthe hen bird. In the seventh year he got his tail complete, whichgrew in length until it was about 2 feet 5 inches long.

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