jlA NESrS AND L.GGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



559. — Cathetubus purpukeicollis, Le Souef. 

 BARNARD BRUSH TURKEY. 



Rejerence. — Ibis, p. 51 (1898). 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Le Souef : Ibis, p. 51 (1898). 



Geographical Distribution. — Cape York (North Queensland). 



Nest. — A similai- mound to that constructed by tlic common Brush 

 Tiukey or Talegallus. ■ 



Hgys. — Clutch, — ; pure white and finely granulated. One obtained 

 at Somerset by Mr. H. Barnard, 3rd November, 1896, measiu'cs 

 3-61 X 2'36 inches (Le Souef). 



Observations. — Mr. Harry Barnard, while eollectiug at Cape York 

 for Mr. Dudley Le Souef and other Melbourne gentlemen, at once 

 recognised the Brush Tiu'key at the head of that Peninsula to be different 

 from those he had been famiUar with at Coomooboolaroo, Central Queens- 

 land, since the) days of ihis boyhood. Mr. Le Souef, in describing the new 

 variety, proposed for the vernacular name the Bai-nard Bi-ush Turkey — 

 a just compliment to an excellent and conscientious field naturahst. 



i'he following arc Mr. Le Souef's observations, taken from the " Ibis " : 

 " This species is found in the Cape York Peninsula. Mr. K. Broadbent 

 obsex-ved it during his extended visit there some years ago. Mr. Jardine, 

 of Somerset, Cape Yoi'k, and Mi-. H. G.i Barnard have lately noticed the 

 variation between it and the southern fonn, and the latter has kindly 

 sent me some skins. The principal difference between the two bu-ds is 

 in the coloration of the lower portion of the neck and wattles, which, in 

 Catheturus purpureicollis (the name by which |I propose to call it), is of 

 a purplish-white, and in Catheturus lathami red, with yellow wattles. 

 Otherwise the birds are very sunilar; but, as Mi-. H. G. Barnard says, 

 ' anyone who has seen the bird in life will at once observe the difference.' 

 The bright colours soon fade on the death of the bird, and the difference 

 is not then so noticeable, although it can still be observed. Dui'ing the 

 breeding season, from October until Januai-y, the wattle of the male is 

 li inches in length, hanging from the lower portion of the neck. When 

 the breeding season is over the wattle shrinks and disappears ; it is then 

 more difficult to tell tlie male from the female when seen in the sciiib. 



" The total length of the adult male is 29 inches, wing 16 inches, and 

 leg 1 1 inches. Its head and upper portion of tlie neck red, lower portion 

 of the neck, with wattles, whitish pm-ple ; eyes very light brown, almost 

 ■white ; bill black ; feet and legs dark brown ; the upper sm-face is blackish- 

 brown, the tail being almost black ; the feathers of the luider surface 

 a<i'e also blackish brown, tipped with light gi'cy. The female is slightly 

 smaller than the male; the colouration of the head and neck is not so 

 bright, and she has no wattle, otherwise she is similar.' 



