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Show 1868.] MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON NEW BIRDS. 53 malous structure and habits of these birds had induced some naturalists to place them among the Gallinaceee, and others with the In-sessores, in which latter order was, in his opinion, their true position. To what family they belonged was still an open question. He had formerly associated them with the American genus Pteroptochos, but no longer entertained that view. By one, at least, of the old writers the Lyre-bird was placed with the Paradiseidce, a view which has lately been revived by Mr. Bartlett. The features most favourable to this opinion appeared to be the character of the feathers covering the body, and the peculiar form of the two narrow central tail-feathers, which feathers were nearly of the same form in the true Birds of Paradise. Mr. Gould then exhibited skins oi Menura superba and M. victoriee, with a chick and egg of the latter species, and directed the attention of the meeting to the peculiar condition of the bird at this early stage of its existence (two days after its exclusion from the egg), when its appearance was so extraordinary as to render it difficult for the most astute ornithologist to determine to what genus it belonged, the entire surface being thickly covered with a lengthened sooty-black down, which assumed the form of a great cowl or hood over the head ; while the under surface was so sparsely clothed, that the throat, flanks, and thighs were nearly naked. The chick also differed from those of most other birds in the feebleness or comparative non-development of the tarsi, toes, and nails, particularly when compared with those of the Gallinaceee and Plovers, in which these organs, so necessary for nimble running, were almost perfect, and eminently fitted for aiding them in procuring their subsistence. The Menura, on the other hand, was as helpless as a young thrush, or any other Insessorial nestling. It was evident, therefore, that, like them, the solitary young Lyre-bird remained sitting in its great domed nest, and was entirely dependent upon its parents for food and protection until its feeble legs had become fully developed, and its body covered with real feathers. Whether the chick was blind on exclusion from the egg was at present unknown, and this was a point which it would be very interesting to ascertain. The following papers were read : - 1. Descriptions of New Species of Birds of the Families Dendrocolaptidee, Strigidce, and Columbida?. By P. L. SCLATER and OSBERT SALVIN. (Plate V.) The following descriptions relate to presumed new species of birds which we have lately met with during a revision of the specimens of the families Dendrocolaptidee, Strigidce, and Columbidce in our collections. W e hope to give illustrations of the greater portion of them in the forthcoming numbers of our ' Exotic Ornithology.' |