V"' ^^^'j Chisholm, a New Meniira. 223 



superha and victoricB. The colour of the two large tail feathers 

 is tawny or russet, as against hazel in the type-bird and chestnut 

 in victorias ^i.e., the new bird is of a lighter colour than the type, 

 while the Victorian bird is daricer. Total length, 35 inches ; wing, 

 11^ inches; bill, ih inches; tarsus, 5 inches. These figures are 

 slightly larger than those of the typical siiperba. 



Further material must be obtained before the precise relation 

 of this bird to the type species can be definitely established. 

 Provisionally, I suggest for this "Queensland superha" the name 

 of Menura edwardi, in honour of His Royal Highness the Prince 

 of Wales. The use of proper names for birds can be overdone ; 

 but in this case the precedents are extraordinary. The names of 

 the Prince's great grandparents were used in respect of two of 

 the three previous species of these "royal" Australian birds; 

 and what more fitting than that to Queen Victoria's * and Prince 

 Albert's Lyre-Birds should be added Prince Edward's Lyre- 

 Bird ? t Moreover, it was on the fringe of the type locahty 

 (i.e., at the Amiens soldiers' settlement) that our persuasive 

 ambassador-Prince first disembarked in Queensland ; it was in 

 the same locahty that he took his farewell of the State ; and it 

 was his tour that indirectly led to the obtaining of the bird. 



How far the Lyre-Bird of the rock country extends (into New 

 South Wales and Queensland respectively) cannot at present be 

 stated. Stanthorp(r itself, though almost exactly too miles in 

 a direct fine from the coast, is very little to the north of the 

 Richmond River country — ^previously supposed to be the most 

 northerly record for the superha group of Lyre-tails. It may be 

 that there is a link somewhere. Indeed, I am beginning to suspect 

 that M. alberti is not the only species of Menura in the Macpherson 

 and other coastal ranges of Southern Queensland ; we have, 1 think, 

 been inclined to take too much for granted on this point. Should 

 connection be established, the semi-anomalous bird of the granite 

 belt will probably take sub-specific rank as M. superha edwardi. 



The strike having been settled, the monthly conversazione of 

 the R.A.O.U. will be held on the first Wednesday of each month, 

 at 8 p.m. 4th May, R.A.O.U. Room, "Gully Birds," Mr. T. 

 Tregellas ; ist June, National Museum, " Recent Additions to 

 the ' H. L. White Collection,' " Mr. A. J. Campbell, and " Tree- 

 creepers," Mr. F. Howe; 6th July, R.A.O.U. Room, "Nests of 

 Birds," Mr. J. A. Ross. 



* A general impression has gained ground that the name victor icB 

 implies the locality of the species. Gould made his object impulse clear, 

 however, when he wrote, apropos of this bird: — "It will be seen that I 

 consider the Menura from this part of the country to be different from the 

 bird inhabiting New South Wales, and that, under this impression, I have 

 named it M. victoria in honour of our gracious Sovereign." 



t A capital suggestion, especially in these days when so much disloyalty 

 is in the air. Moreover, the royal parents of Prince Edward are the 

 co-patrons of the R.A.O.U., and have taken an especial interest in the 

 Union since its inception 20 years ago. — Eds. 



