A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 737 



young were frequently found from early in July until March. They 

 were often found at a great distance from water; on several occasions, 

 however, I disturbed them whilst diinking. " 



573. — Pedionomus torquatus, Gould. — (485) 

 PLAIN WANDERER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 80. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxii., p. 554. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Scie_nce Record 



(1883), also Nests and Eggs .\ustn. Birds, pi. 2, fig. 485 (1SS3) ; 



North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 288, pi. 16, fig. 12 (1S89). 



Geographical DUtrihution. — New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Austraha. 



Nest. — Merely a depression in tlie gi-ound, sometimes sheltered by 

 grass tufts, usually on open plains. 



Eggn. — Clutch, foiu' to five ; pyriform, sharply nipped off at one end, 

 occasionally -with an elongated neck, which gives quite a pear-shaped 

 appearance; texture fine, but firm and strong; surface glossy; coloiu-, 

 yellowish or greenish- white, ^potted and finely blotched, thickest on 

 the apex, with oHve and dull-grey. Wlien the shells are empty and 

 are inibbed against each other, the sound caused resembles that pro- 

 duced by the grating of fine pieces of china-ware. Average dimensions 

 in inches of a large-sized set of three; 1-33 xl'O; odd examples: 

 (1) 1-28 X -92, (2) 1-27 x -9. (Plate 18.) 



Observations. — The collared Plain Wanderer, although a unique 

 species, is closely allied to the Tumixes, from which birds, however, it 

 differs in possessing a hind-toe. As Gould remarks, the structure of 

 this singular bird is admirably adapted for inhabiting the extensive 

 and arid plains of the central portions of AustraUa. 



Tlie bird may be at once distinguished from the other Quail by 

 the broad white ring round its neck, spotted with black, and by its 

 small hind toe ; the rest of the plumage is reddish-brown. The yellow 

 legs are comparatively long, while its wing power is feeble. Length, 

 7 inches ; wing, 3| inches ; bill, j inch ; tarsus, ^ inch. 



Occasionally the birds \'isit Victoria and South Austraha. In the 

 latter place, according to Gould, they appear in June, disappearing 

 about January. On accoimt of their feeble flight powers they are often 

 caught by sportsmen's dogs. Not many years ago I heard of a bird 

 being caught in the vicinity of the St. Kilda cemetery ; and more 

 recently a friend's dog caught one near Williamstown. Tlie same 

 gentleman observed a nest of the Plain Wanderer containing the 

 peculiarly pointed eggs, on the Keilor Plains. 

 47 



