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4. Nores on THe Hasirs or Menura avserti. By A. A. 
Leycester, Esa. (IN A LerrerR ADDRESSED TO JOHN 
Gov tp, Esa., F.R.S., &c.) 
The habits of this bird are very similar to those of the Menura 
superba, as described by Mr. Gould, but, as that gentleman has 
begged for a full description of them, I send all the particulars I 
have been able to collect. 
The Menura alberti is famous for its most extraordinary mocking 
capabilities. It is found only on the Brisbane and Tweed rivers and 
in the neighbourhood of their waters. It inhabits the rushes, and 
generally chooses a sandy soil for its locality. I never saw more 
than a pair together, male and female. Each male bird has his 
walk or boundary, and gives battle if another male encroaches on it. 
He commences singing some time before the dawn of day, being the 
earliest of the forest-birds in this respect. His song is much varied, 
as besides his own peculiar note he imitates the cries of all the birds 
in the bush, such as the Laughing Jackass (Dacelo gigas), and even 
the mournful howl of the Owl and the thrilling scream of the 
Curlew. When singing and playing about he spreads his tail over 
his back like a peacock. He scratches and picks at the earth while 
singing, which he generally does until about an hour after sunrise. 
He then becomes silent, and remains so until about an hour before 
sunset, when he again commences, and continues singing and playing 
about until it is quite dark. This Menura feeds entirely upon insects, 
mostly small beetles, mingled with a goodly proportion of sand. It 
has no crop or upper stomach. The male bird is about four years 
old before he gets his full tail, as I have proved by shooting ex- 
amples in full feather with the tail in four different stages of develop- 
ment; the two centre curved feathers are the last to make their 
appearance. It breeds in winter, commencing its nest in May, laying 
in June, and hatching its young in July. It generally builds on 
some bare rock where there is a sufficient shelter for a lodgment, so 
that no animals or vermin can approach. The nest is cohstructed of 
small sticks interwoven with long dry roots and moss, the inside 
being composed of the skeleton leaf of the parasitica] tree-fern, 
which makes an inside lining, and is very similar to horse-hair. It 
is completely rain-proof, and has an entrance at the side. The hen 
lays only one egg of a very dull colour, looking as if it had been 
blotched over with ink. The young bird when first hatched is 
covered with a white down, and remains in the nest about six weeks 
before it takes its departure. The flesh is not good for food, being 
of a dark colour, tough and dry. The aboriginal name is Colwin. 
5. On tue Reptiues or Sram. By Dr. Avsert GinTuER. 
(Reptilia, Pl. XXIII.) 
There is no part of Tropical Asia of which the Amphibio-fauna 
is so little known as that of Siam. The only information on the 
No. 424.—Procrepines or THE ZooutoeicaL Society. 
