316 



MENURID.K. 



the feathers next the central pair of feathers beiny ivebbed fur a third of their length frmn the base, the 

 webs gradiiaUy decreasing in extent towards the external feathers, ivhich are but slightly webbed there; 

 external tail-feathers curved oiitivardly for two-thirds of their length, and recnrved again at the tips, the 

 outer webs nan-ow, dark silvery-grey and tipped ivith black; inner webs, broad, of an ashy grey tint 

 washed with rufous, and edged and tipped tvith black, and having darker rufous notch-like markings, 

 tvhich appear transparent when held against the light; bill, legs and feet black ; iris dark brown. Total 

 length of skin 3S inches, wing 11, tail 21i., bill from foreJtend 1-75, farsiis J^-5. 



Adult female — Does not possess a lyre-shajjed tail like the niith\ but has nil the tail feathers 

 broadly webbed, the tico centre ones being the longest and their inner n'ebx mirnnrer : the older 

 tail-feathers are slightly curved, and notched on the inner webs, nnth rufous markings. Total 

 length 32 inches, unng 9-9, tarsus J/., central tail-fentliers 18'5, outer tail-feathers 12. 

 Distribution — Eastern New South Wales. 



TI 



Tij YRE-BIRDS, which are 

 represented by three 

 species belonging to the genus 

 Mfiiiim, are exclusively confined 

 to the south-eastern portion of the 

 Australian continent. Following 

 Professor Newton and Mr. 

 Garrod, Dr. R. B. Sharpe, in 

 the " Catalogue of Birds in the 

 British Museum," places them 

 at the end, among the abnormal 

 Passeres, their only ally in 

 this subdivision of the Order 

 being the Scrub Birds belong- 

 ing to the family Atrichiidie, 

 another strictly Australian group. 

 Later on in his " Hand-list of 

 Birds," he institutes the Order 

 Menuriformes for their sole 

 reception. The wings are short 

 and rounded, the legs and feet 

 strong, with long claws, and the 

 feathers in the tail of the fully- 

 plumaged male are long and of 

 abnormal form. In two species, 

 .1/. supcvba and M. victoriir, the 

 exterior tail-feathers in the adult 

 male assume the form of a lyre. 

 The inner webs of these feathers 

 are, moreover, notched with 

 chestnut markings, which, when 

 held before the light, appear 

 transparent. On examination it 

 will be found that the barbs of 

 the feather, at the notches, are devoid of barbules. These birds chiefly frequent humid mountain 

 ranges, or the coastal brushes, and breed in the depth of winter. In addition to their rich and 

 melodious notes, these birds are possessed of wonderful powers of mimicry. From the lengthened 

 form of the tail-feathers, all three species in the country districts are locally known as " Pheasants." 



LYKR-BIKD 



