lyre-bird

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


an Australian bird, originallycalled the Bird of Paradise of New South Wales; thencalled a Native Pheasant, or Mountain Pheasant,and still generally called a Pheasant by the Gippslandbushmen. The name Lyre-bird apparently began between 1828 and1834. It is not used by Cunningham, `Two Years in New SouthWales' (1828), vol. i. p. 303. See Menura.The species are – – The Lyre-bird – – Menura superba, Davies.

♣ Albert L. – b. – – M. alberti, Gould.

♣ Victoria L. – b. – – M. victoriae, Gould.

Since 1888 the Lyre-bird has been the design on theeight-penny postage-stamp of New South Wales.

1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' p. 435:

«The Bird of Paradise of New South Wales [with picture]. Thiselegant bird, which by some is called the Bird of Paradise, andby others the Maenura Superba, has a straight bill, with thenostrils in the centre of the beak.»

1802. D. Collins, `History of English Colony of New SouthWales,' vol. ii. p. 335:

« Menura superba.» [But not the name lyre-bird].

1834. Geo. Bennett, `Wanderings in New South Wales, etc.,'/vol./ i. p. 277:

«The `Native or Wood-pheasant,' or `Lyre bird' of thecolonists, the `Menura superba' of naturalists, and the`Beleck, beleck,' and `Balaugara' of the aboriginal tribes,is abundant about the mountain ranges, in all parts of thecolony.»

1846. G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,'p. 132:

«Numerous pheasants ( Menura superba). These birds arethe mocking-birds of Australia, imitating all the sounds thatare heard in the bush in great perfection. They are about thesize of a barn-door fowl, and are not remarkable for any beautyeither in the shape or colour, being of a dirty brown,approaching to black in some parts; their greatest attractionconsists in the graceful tail of the cock bird, which assumessomething the appearance of a lyre, for which reason somenaturalists have called them lyre-birds.»

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 14:

« Menura superba, Davies, Lyre-bird; Pheasant of theColonists. Were I requested to suggest an emblem for Australiaamongst its birds, I should without the slightest hesitationselect the Menura as the most appropriate, beingstrictly peculiar to Australia.»

1864. J. S. Moore, `Spring-Life Lyrics;' p. 92:

«Shy as the lyre-bird, hidden away,

A glittering waif in the wild.»

1867. G. G. McCrae, `Balladeadro,' p. 30:

«There the proud lyre-bird spreads his tail,

And mocks the notes of hill and dale

Whether the wild dog's plaintive howl

Or cry of piping water-fowl.»

1872. A. McFarland, `Illawarra Manaro,' p. 54:

«The Lyre-bird may yet be seen – – more frequently heard – – amongstthe gullies and ravines. It has the power of imitating everyother bird, and nearly every sound it hears in the bush-eventhat of a cross-cut saw.»

1886. J. A. Fronde, `Oceana,' p. 146:

«Here, too, for the first time, we saw a lyre-bird, which someone had just shot, the body being like a coot's, and about thesame size, the tail long as the tail of a bird of paradise,beautifully marked in bright brown, with the two chief featherscurved into the shape of a Greek lyre, from which it takes itsname.»

1890. `Victorian Statutes' – – Game Act, Third Schedule:

[Close Season.] «Lyre Birds. The whole year.»

1893. `The Age,' Aug. 7, p. vi, col. 9:

«There are more reasons than one why the lyre-bird should bepreserved. From a purely utilitarian point of view it is ofvalue, for it is insectivorous and preys upon insects which areapt to prefer orchard fruit to their natural bush food. Butthe bird has as well a national and sentimental value. Next tothe emu it is the most typical Australian bird. It is peculiarto Australia, for in no other country is it to be seen.Comparatively speaking it is a rara avis even inAustralia itself, for it is only to be found in the mostsecluded parts of two colonies – – Victoria and New South Wales.It is the native pheasant. The aborigines call it`Beleck-Beleck,' and whites call it the `lyre-bird' from theshape of its tail; the ornithologists have named it Menura. There are three species – – the Victoriaeof this colony, and the Alberta and superba ofNew South Wales. The general plumage is glossy brown, shadedwith black and silver grey, and the ornate tail of the malebird is brown with black bars. They live in the densestrecesses of the fern gullies of the Dividing Range with theyellow-breasted robin, the satin-bird, and the bell-bird astheir neighbours. They are the most shy of birds, and areoftener heard than seen. Their notes, too, are heard morefrequently than they are recognized, for they are consummatemimics and ventriloquists. They imitate to perfection thenotes of all other birds, the united voicing of a flock ofparaquetts [sic], the barking of dogs, the sawing of timber,and the clink of the woodman's axe. Thus it is that the menura has earned for itself the title of the Australianmocking-bird. Parrots and magpies are taught to speak; as amimic the lyre-bird requires no teacher.»

1893. `Sydney Morning Herald,' Aug. 9. p. 9, col. 1:

«If the creature was lovely its beauty was marketable andfatal – – and the lyre-bird was pursued to its last retreats andinveigled to death, so that its feathers might be peddled inour streets.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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