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Webster 1913 Edition


Lyre bird

Lyre′ birdˊ

Noun.
(Zool.)
Any one of two or three species of Australian birds of the genus
Menura
. The male is remarkable for having the sixteen tail feathers very long and, when spread, arranged in the form of a lyre. The common lyre bird (
Menura superba
), inhabiting New South Wales, is about the size of a grouse. Its general color is brown, with rufous color on the throat, wings, tail coverts and tail. Called also
lyre pheasant
and
lyre-tail
.