This is -d specimen of one of the curious birds found only in Australia. The one 

 represented by ]Mr. Ciould, from whose sjjlendid work our engraving was taken, was 

 captured near the Isle of Kcsolution, by the seal-tishers. Having noticed the marks 

 made by the bird on the snow, they followed it to the place whither it withdrew, when it 

 took flight, running rapidly before the dogs which followed it, and at last captured it. 

 It uttered piercing cries and struggled for a long time. It was kept alive for four 

 da3-s ; its body was roasted, and eaten by the sailors, who_ found its flesh of an agreeable 

 flavour. 



I'he jyoforni'S JdcinteUi of Owen, named after the traveller Mantell, who was the first 

 to observe it alive, approaches the Rails in the form of its beak and the general colour 

 of its plumage, and is unlike them in the weakness of its wings ; its primary feathers 

 are very short. It cannot fly, but it runs with great speed. It probably has the power 

 of swimming; the thickness of its plumage leads to the belief that it has a preference for 

 damji spots. The head, neck, breast, and upper part of the belly and sides are of a 

 beautiful purple-blue ; the back, rump, and upper part of the tail are of a deep green 

 oli\e, tipped with copper-green ; a beautiful blue stripe separates the purple blue of the 

 neck from the green of the back ; the lower part of the belly and the thighs are of a dull 

 bluish black ; the wings are of a beautiful deep blue ; the long feathers arc tipped with 

 green, forming a crescent where the wing is extended. The tail is deep green ; its 

 under-part white. The beak, talons, and iris are of a brilliant red. The height is 

 two feet. 



Much has yet to be learned in reference to this bird. The ornithology of Australia, 

 though far from being so peculiar and anomalous as its mammalogy, contains, neverthe- 

 less, many new and singular forms, of which the Xofonik is an example. Its limited 

 range is a formidable barrier to acquaintance with' it, but much will doubtless be accom- 

 plished by the sagacity and intelligence of naturalists. 



* NotoniU >riintclli -Owen. 



2 M 



