of Mentirafuperha^ a Bird of New South JVales. 209 



taken from a fpecimen fent from New South Wales as a prefent to 

 Latly Mary Howe. I have alfo feen two other fpecimens in the 

 pofleffion of the Right Hon. Sir Jofeph Bank?, which I beheve have 

 fjnce been depofited in the Britifli Mufajum. 



SINCE I had the honour of communicating to the Linnean So- 

 ciety the foregoing defcription of the Menura^ I have been favoured 

 with both male and female of that extraordinary bird from my 

 friend Governor King, by the Buffalo ftore-flilp; and I am thereby 

 enabled to lay before the Society a defcription of the different fcxes. 

 I find, indeed, that with a little deviation the fame chara6lcrs and co- 

 lours will fervc for both of them. The female, however, is fomcwhat 

 fmaller, being in length, from the crown of the head to the end of 

 the tail, only 31 inches. The general plumage of the whole bird is 

 of a dull blackilh colour, a little rufous under the chin and throat, 

 and of a brownidi caft on the fcapulars,as in the male. The plumage 

 of the whole body, from the breafl to the vent, and from the 

 fhoulders to the rump, is compofed of long, flender, thread-like, filky 

 feathers, refembling fringe, of a dull grayifh black; lighter on the 

 bread, belly, and vent. The bill and legs, which are /Irong and 

 furniilied with large fcales, as in the cock, are black. From the 

 head to the rump 14 inches. The tail 18 inches, alfo of a dull 

 brown black colour above and gray beneath. The two upper 

 tail feathers are (harp pointed at the ends ; the reft are rounded 

 and darker in colour, and (horten by degrees, as they approach 

 the rump, fo as to appear cuneated. The two outer feathers 

 arc faorter than the reft, bent in form like thofe of the male, brown ^ 

 black above, of a pearly gray beneath ; and the crefcents, which are 



Vol. VI. E e of 



