"The `Native or Wood-pheasant,' or `Lyre bird' of the colonists, 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 the colony."
1846. G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,' p. 132:
"Numerous pheasants (<i>Menura superba</i>). These birds are the mocking-birds of Australia, imitating all the sounds that are heard in the bush in great perfection. They are about the size of a barn-door fowl, and are not remarkable for any beauty either in the shape or colour, being of a dirty brown, approaching to black in some parts; their greatest attraction consists in the graceful tail of the cock bird, which assumes something the appearance of a lyre, for which reason some naturalists have called them lyre-birds."
1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 14:
"<i>Menura superba</i>, Davies, Lyre-bird; Pheasant of the Colonists. Were I requested to suggest an emblem for Australia amongst its birds, I should without the slightest hesitation select the <i>Menura</i> as the most appropriate, being strictly 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: