M iscellanea. 195 
the inner sides of the limbs pale buff; the colouring of the upper 
and under surface distinctly defined on the sides of the body, but 
gradually blending on the limbs, the rump and root of the tail, which 
is thickly clothed on its basal third and naked for the remainder of 
its length ; hands, feet, and naked portion of the tail pinky flesh- 
colour. 
inches. 
Length from tip of nose to root of tail............ 12 
CL IRE) ceacondeococ ecbesnnanaseacccaecnceaaunie tino 
of fore-feet, including the nails ............ 
of hind-feet, including the nails .........00 
Hab. Cape York, the most northern point of Australia. 
This species differs from all the other Australian members of the 
genus, in having the apical three-fourths of its tail entirely destitute 
of hair; in the light-coloured mark on the rump, somewhat resem- 
bling that on the same part of the Koala; and in its short dense 
fur and short ears. 
The above description and admeasurements are taken from a 
female said to be about two-thirds grown. The ears are exceedingly 
short and rounded, and the fur is remarkable for its extreme density 
and for its resemblance to that of the Koala. 
Pritoris Victori&, Gould. (Aves, Pl. XII). 
Sp. Ch.—Male : general plumage rich deep velvety black, glossed 
on the upper surface, sides of the neck, chin and breast with plum- 
colour; feathers of the head and throat small, scale-like, and of a 
shining, metallic bronzy green; feathers of the abdomen very much 
developed, of the same hue as the upper surface, but each feather 
so broadly margined with rich deep olive-green, that the colouring 
of the basal portion of the feather is hidden, and the olive-green 
forms a broad abdominal band, which is sharply defined above, but 
irregular below; two centre tail-feathers rich shining metallic green, 
the remainder deep black; bill and feet black. 
Female : all the upper surface grayish brown, tinged with olive; 
head and sides of the neck dark brown, striated with grayish brown ; 
over each eye a superciliary stripe of buff; wing-feathers edged 
with ferruginous ; chin and throat pale buff; remainder of the under 
surface, under wing-coverts, and the base of the inner webs of the 
quills rich deep readish buff, each feather with an irregular spot of 
brown near the tip, dilated on the flanks into the form of irregular 
bars; bill and feet black. 
Total length, 103 inches; bill, 12; wing, 5; tail, 3}; tarsi, 1}. 
Hab. Barnard’s Isles. 
Remark.—This new species must be placed in the first rank of 
the many beautiful birds inhabiting Australia: indeed, there are 
few from any part of the world that can vie with it in the richness 
of its colouring; and I cannot possibly have a better opportunity 
than now presents itself of paying a just tribute of respect to our 
most gracious Queen, by bestowing upon this lovely denizen of the 
Australian forests the specific appellation of Victorie ;—1 say of the 
Australian forests, for although the specimen from which my 
description is taken is from the Barnard Isles, within the Barrier 
Reef, and only a few miles from the north-eastern shore of Australia, 
I have evidence, in the notes of the late Mr. Gilbert, that it inhabits 
8 
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32 
