61 
3. Norges oN SEMIOPTERA WALLACII, GRAY, FROM A LETTER 
ADDRESSED TO JOHN GouLp, Esa., F.R.S., py A. R. Wat- 
LACE, Es@., DATED AMBOyYNA, SEPT. 30, 1859. 
“The Semioptera wallacii frequents the lower trees of the virgin 
forests, and is almost constantly in motion. It flies from branch to 
branch, and clings to the twigs and even to the vertical smooth 
trunks almost as easily as a Woodpecker. It continually utters a 
harsh croaking cry, something between that of Paradisea apoda and 
the more musical ery of Cicinnurus regius. The males, at short 
intervals, open and flutter their wings, erect the long shoulder fea- 
thers, and expand the elegant shields on each side of the breast. 
Like the other Birds of Paradise, the females and young males far 
outnumber the fully plumaged birds, which renders it probable that 
the extraordinary accessory plumes are uot fully developed until the 
second or third year. The bird seems to feed principally upon fruit, 
but it probably takes insects occasionally. 
‘<The iris is of a deep olive; the bill horny-olive ; the feet orange, 
and the claws horny. 
“T have now obtained a few examples of apparently the same 
bird from Gi/olo ; but in these the crown is of a more decided violet 
hue, and the plumes of the breast are much larger.” ‘ 
4. NoTes ON THE YOUNG oF MENURA SUPERBA. By Lupwic 
Becker, Esqa., 1n a LETTER To JouHN Gou_p, Esa., F.R.S., 
ETC., DATED MELBOURNE, Victoria, Sept. 24, 1859. 
“In the month of October 1858 the nest of a Lyre-bird was found 
in the densely wooded ranges near the sources of the river Yarra- 
Yarra. It contained a bird, which seemed at first to be an old one 
in asickly condition, as it did not attempt to escape; but it was soon 
discovered to be a young bird of very large size as compared with its 
helplessness. When taken out of the nest it screamed loudly ; the 
note being high and sounding like ‘ tehing-tching.’ Ina shortStime 
the mother bird, attracted by the call, arrived, and, notwithstanding 
the proverbial shyness of the species, flew within a few feet of its 
young, and tried in vain to deliver it from captivity by flapping her 
wings and making various rapid motions in different directions 
towards the captor. A shot brought down the poor bird, and with 
its mother near it the young Menura was soon silent and quiet. It 
was taken away and kept at a ‘ mia-mia’ erected in the midst of the 
surrounding forest. The following is as correct a description of the 
bird as I can give you :— 
“Its height was 16 inches; the body was covered with a brown 
down, but the wings and tail were already furnished with feathers 
of a dark brown colour. The head was thickly covered with a 
greyish-white down of from | to 2 inches in length; the eyes were 
hazel-brown ; the beak blackish and soft; the legs nearly as large 
as those of a full-grown specimen, but it walked most awkwardly 
with the legs bent inwards. It rose with difficulty, the wings as- 
