*7 9 3.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. m 



On the 9th of February, the three perform who had been fent out 

 with the Irifhmen, that were Co defirous of difcovering a country where 

 they might live more at their eafe, returned, fo much exhaufted with 

 the fatigue, that they had with the utinoft difficulty made their way 

 back. By their account, they had travelled in a direction S. W. three - 

 fourths W. about 140 miles from Parramatta ; a greater di ft a nee than 

 any European had ever before been. They brought with them a 

 bird (many of which they had met with), and which on examination 

 appeared to be a variety of the bird of Paradife. The fize of this cu- 

 rious and handfome bird was that of a common hen ; the colour a 

 reddifh black, the bill long, the legs black and very ftrong : the tail, 

 about two feet in length, was formed of feveral feathers, two of which 

 were the principal, having the interior fides fcalloped alternately of a 

 deeper or lighter reddifh brown inclining to orange, fhading gently 

 into a white or filver colour next the ftem, craning each other, and 

 at the very extremity terminating in a broad black round fini filing. 

 The difference of colour in the fcallops did not proceed from any pre- 

 cife change in the colour itfelf, but from the texture of the feather, 

 which was alternately thicker and thinner. The fibres of the outer 

 fide of the ftem were narrow and of a lead colour. Two other fea- 

 thers of equal length, and of a blueifh or lead colour, lay within thofe ; 

 very narrow, and having fibres only on one fide of the ftem. Many 

 other feathers of the fame length lay within thofe again, which were 

 of a pale greyifh colour, and of the moft delicate texture, refembling 

 more the ikeleton of a feather than a perfect one. The annexed 

 Engraving, from the pencil of a capital artift, will give a better 

 idea of this beautiful bird than can be formed from any defcription^. 



* Since the above was written, the Author has been favoured with the following more minute 

 description : 



** The bill of this bird, which has been denominated M^enxjra Superba, isllraight, having 

 the noftriis in the centre of the beak. The bale of the upper mandible is furnifhed with hairs 

 like feathers turning down | ,the upper mandible is at the bafe fomcwhat like that of the pigeon. 

 The eye is a dark hazle, with a bare fpace around it. The throat and chin are of a dark rufous 

 colour ; the reft, with the body, of a dufky grey. The feathers on the rump are longer than 

 thofe of the body, and more divided. The colour of the ■wings* which are concave, is dark 



3 h rufoui 



