The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-08-24
Ornitlloloan.
Beautiful Birds.


the PhasiaHidse the Impeyan pheasant is
one of the noblest species. He lives
among the mountain heights of the Him
alayas, scorning the lowlands, where he
has never been known to descend. OF
the color of this gorgeous child of the for
est it is difficult to give an idea. Bronze
green, iridescent gold, and purple, radiant
as if seen through golden haze, compose
its princely costume. On its head it wears
a tuft Of glistening green spirals, broad at
the top, each one delicate and airy as
might be fairy's parasol. During the
winter months the snow and cold drive
these birds to congregate in fOcks in the
most secluded forest hooks of the noun
tains Here the hunter may surprise
them, and feast his eyes-if, indeed, he
have an eye for beauty-on their wondrous
and glistening plumage. At the approach
of spring they scatter, and ascend to the
high lands, where, thousands of feet above
the sea, they pass the warm months in
undisturbed seelusion.
The monauls are easily kept in cages,
and, unless subjected to heated atmos-
phere, they take confinement easily. The
first living specimens were brought to
England by Lady Impey, hence the Eng
lish name of the bird. 1t is necessary to
provide the cage with a corner Of retreat,
for there are seasons when this shy, sullen
creature would apparently prefer death to
the gaze of man.
pxDn Gun 80
gular and beautiful freaks is found embod-
led in the lyre-bird, an inhabitant of the
mountains Of Australia. 1t tseems strange
enough to find this large bird classed with
the wren family, those tiny warblers of
English hedge-rows, but science pronounc-
es them of similar construction, however,
different in appearance. The name of
lyre-bird has been bestowed on account of
the resemblance of the tail feathers of the
male to an ancient Tyre, the natives of
Australia call it bulen-Gullen, in imitation
of its wild, shrill cry. The color of its
plumage is rich rather than brilliant
Mostly of a dark brownish-gray, it is
frightened by red on the throat and the
short feathers at the base of the tail
1t is very shy in its habits, choosing
haunts among the thickly wooded cliffs
which are almost inaccessible to the most
daring hunter. Its nestis generally placed
in the crotch of some tree very near the
ground, as it is not bird of lofty fight,
and loves best to hide among the low un-
dergrowth of the forest. Its nest is rough
" built of sticks and leaves, of a round
form, with the entrance on one side, and
seen from 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 year, it is natural
that these birds should not be very nu-
merous. They are generally found in
isolated pairs, and the male generally re-
sents any Infringement upon his domain,
fighting with a. good will any other suitor
that may dare to cast eyes on his lady.
This jealousy is often made use of by the
natives to entrap the bird. They fasten
tail from some captured bird upon the
head and coneealing themselves in the
bushes move sufficiently to give a natural
swaying motion to the feather When
the male sees the appearance of a supposed
rival, he advances, furious for battle, and
falls an easy prey to the hunter.
The lyre-bird might properly be called
the Australian mocking- bird, for, besides
its own peculiar note, it initiates the song
of other birds, aud even human voices.
A saw-mill was at one time situated among
the Australian mountains where these
birds were known to have their haunts.
On holidays, when the mill was stopped
and all was still, from out the wild, un-
broken forest came sounds of human
laughter and singing, barking of dogs, even
an imitation Of the rough, rasping noise
of the saw, mingled with notes of all kinds
of birds, and at intervals the sharp, shrill
buL'eR-bplLen, which betrayed the lyre-bird
as the initiative singer. Efforts have been
made to raise the young of the lyre-bird,
but they invariably droop and die after a
few months of captivity.
HUMMING-BIRDs.-What, then, shall
be said of the humming bird, that tiny
dweller in lovely tropical forests, futtering
and darting among wildernesses of orchids,
creepers, air-plants, as gorgeous and fairy
like as the great blue Brazilian butterfly.
its play-fellow in "those Amazonian plains,
long-lying as enchanted Professor Or
ton, writing of the South American wids.
says:-"Lithe lianas, starred with flowers,
coil up the stately trees, and then hang
down like strung jewels; they can be
counted only by myriads, yet they are
mere superhuities. The dense dome of
green overhead is supported by crowded
columns, often branchless for eighty feet.
The reckless competition among both small
and great adds to the solemn;ty and gloom
of tropical forest" In these untrodden
bowers the humming- bird makes its home.
1t is peculiar to America and the adjacent
islands, aud although bearing some rela-
tion to the sun-bird of Asia and Africa. it
is never found across the water in all its
tiny beauty. A few varieties live in the
Northern United States, and are often seen
sporting over beds of flowers in the sum-
mer sunshine. Their motion is rapid and
graceful. Now close at hand, plunging
into deep fOwer-cup, in an instant it is
of like a ray of light, and disappears no
one knows whittier. Never appearing to
alight, they hover on delicate wing, true
creatures of the air and sunshine.
Bright humming- bird Of gem like plumeletage.
by Western Indians Living Sunbeam" named"
There are many species of this little
creature, which is found in the gratest
abundance in the West Indies and all
through South America. Its coloring is a
marvel Of beauty. Now like a ruby, now
a topaz, or emerald, or shining gold, it
seems fluttering rainbow, the most love
ly and dainty of all the great bird family.