BY CHAKLES W. DE VIS, B.A. 193 



it is broken off at the commencement of the rough surface above 

 the " third " trochanter, where its diameter is 2 inches, that of 

 M. Major being 1. In the head of the tibia we are struck with 

 as great a deviation from macropodal form as in the femur; there 

 is no anterior tuberosity prolonged in the plane of the articular 

 surface. That surface is equilateral, measuring 2-| inches on each 

 of its three sides. A broad and high intercondylar ridge slopes 

 gently to the rounded anterior apex of the triangular surface, 

 whence the profile of the bone descends almost vertically for 

 f inch to the origin of the broad procnemial ridge ; yet the 

 transverse groove below the edge of the hinder-articular surface is 

 as deeply cut as in existing kangaroos. In this characteristic 

 feature, as well as in the depth and breadth of the excavation of 

 the outer facet of the shaft, and in the sharp, longitudinal ridges 

 separating the other facets, the tibia is entirely macropodal ; but 

 in the fore and aft contraction of its roundly triangular articulating 

 surface it suggests a tentative departure towards the slow-paced 

 giants of the class. 



Of the rest of the remains, two distal ends of left femurs are 

 alone sufficiently well preserved to merit notice. These possess 

 the usual characters of the kangaroo femur. So far as can be 

 estimated, they are of exactly the same size transversely as that of 

 P. Azael, but have apparently a far greater length of the condylar 

 surfaces. Besides this they present several minor differences 

 which forbid their identification with the fossil figured by Professor 

 Owen. Into these distinctive features it seems unnecessary to 

 enter. Enough of detail has already been given to render the 

 present communication tedious. 



On the Habits of the Mallee Hen, Leipoa Ocellata. 

 By K. H. Bennett. 



This singular bird as its trivial name implies, is an inhabitant 

 of the arid dreary Mallee Scrubs that clothe a large area of the 

 western portion of New South Wales, and even larger extents of 

 some of the adjoining colonies, but as my experiences of the bird 

 and its habitat are confined to the former colony, I can speak 



