ONE OD Wr CAR ON: Ixxix

in the habit of raising themselves in a nearly perpendicular position on the extremities of their toes, so that the
hinder part of the foot does not touch the ground, and of taking a wide survey around them. The Emu sometimes
stands in a similar position. I have not yet ascertained anything respecting their nests, eggs or time of breeding.
The call of those we have in confinement precisely resembles that of the Emu, not the whistle, but the hollow-
sounding noise like that produced by tapping on a cask, which the Emu utters, but is of course much fainter.”

The Plate therefore represents two females, and the appellation of microurus given to the male bird should be
the one adopted. As the male has not been figured, the following description of that sex is given :—

Crown of the head, back and upper surface mottled with black, brown and fawn-colour, the latter occupying
the external edge of the feathers, and the black and brown forming alternate circular markings on each feather ;
throat, neck, chest and flanks dull fawn-colour, the feathers of the neck and chest blotched with brown ; flanks
marked with the same colour, assuming the form of bars; tail-feathers almost invisible; centre of the abdomen
and under tail-coverts buffy-white, without spots or markings ; irides straw-yellow passing into black at the
point ; feet greenish yellow.

Total length, 44 inches ; bill, 44; wing, 31; tarsi, 2.

Independently of the plains of South Australia formerly given as the restricted habitat of this species, I have
lately received a letter from Mr. Strange of Sydney, in which he states a female had been procured in the
neighbourhood of Botany Bay. I am also in possession of an egg of this bird, which in general character resembles
that of Turnixv ; it is somewhat suddenly contracted at the smaller end, the ground-colour is stone-white, sprinkled
with small blotches of umber-brown and vinous-grey, the latter colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the
shell, the sprinkled markings predominating at the larger end; the length of the egg is 1 inch and one-eighth by

35
seven-eighths in breadth.

443. Pedionomus torquatus, Gould, female : : : i : : : ; : Woll, We JBL, BO,

 

microurus, Gould, male.

Genus Turnix, Bonn.

However widely the members of this genus are dispersed, inhabiting as one or other of them do all quarters
of the Old World, Australia is the great nursery of the race, since it is in that country that we find the species
more numerous than elsewhere ; they not only inhabit every part of the continent that has yet been explored, but
they extend their range to the islands adjacent to the coast and even to Van Diemen’s Land; some species enjoy ¢
wide range across the continent from east to west, while others are very local; grassy plains and stony ridges
thickly interspersed with scrubs and grasses are the situations they frequent; their eggs are invariably four in
number, pointed in form, and very like those of the Sandpipers; their only nest is a few grasses placed in a hollow
on the ground ; in their habits and actions they differ considerably from the Quails and Partridges, and, strange as
it may appear, approach more closely to the Tringe, particularly to those species with the more attenuated form of
bill; when rising from almost beneath your feet, they fly, especially the smaller species, straight and with arrow-
like swiftness to the distance of one or two hundred yards, and then suddenly pitch to the ground. Their flesh,

although eatable, is dry and deficient in flavour when compared with that of the Quails and Partridges.

444, Turnix melanogaster.

Hemipodius melanogaster, Gould . : ; : : , , : Voli Vaork sik
445. Turnix varius.

Hemipodius varius . : : : : : : 2 : : : : ‘ Wolk Ve Ee S2:
446. Turnix scintillans.
447. Hemipodius scintillans, Gould ; : : : 2 ‘ ; : : Vole Veni ss:
448. Turnix melanotus.

Hemipodius melanotus, Gould : : : é : : : : ; Mole Ve Rie 84
449. Turnix castanotus.

Hemipodius castanotus, Gould A : 3 ‘ : : ‘ : : ; ; Vol, W., IPL 85.

 

 

 

 

 

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