Ni-STS AND KCGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. yQi^ 



Egiju. — Clutch, one to two usually ; rare occasions three ; nearly 

 elliptical iu shape; texture of shell coarse; surface glossy, with usually 

 a few limy nodules; colour, olive, obscurely mottled or smeared, 

 chiefly in a longitudinal cUrection, with ohve-brown. Occasionally an 

 egg has a dull, gi-eenish gi-ound-colour, or is of an entirely bluish shade. 

 Dimensions in inches of five selected examples : (1) 3-3 x 2-32, 

 (2) 3-27 X 2-3, (3) 3-13 x 2-25, (4) 3-12 x 2-25, (5) 3-2 x 2-14. (Plate 20.) 



Observatioiu. — This noble bird roams tlu'oughout Australia, and may 

 be found in most localities conducive to its habits, such as the plains. 

 How majestic the Bustard looks as it paces slowly, with head erect ! The 

 general plumage is dappled-gi'ey, with yellowish legs and bill. The male 

 bird, which averages about 18 lbs. weight, is much larger than his mate ; 

 and also has the long, light-gi-ey plumes about the neck of gi'eater length. 

 Therefore, as far as the pair is concerned, he has, undoubtedly, the 

 ■ lordly appearance. Their flesh, although somewhat dai"k iu colour, 

 is well flavoured and excellenti eating ; but, like all game, it most decidedly 

 improves by keeping. " God provides the food, but the devil the cooks," 

 as the saying goes. Many a line Bustard has been pronoimced tough 

 and tasteless simply because it was cooked before the feathei-s were 

 sciu-cely cold, instead of ha\'ing been hung for three or foui' days, or a 

 week, if possible. The Wild Tm-key has leamt instinctively the value of 

 its flesh, for it has become " mighty " shy, and can only be procui'ed by 

 stratagem. The best mode is shooting from horseback, or from some 

 vehicle. Referring to my diaiy for 1877, I find the following note re 

 stalking Wild Turkey; — "Two buggy parties out, the clergyman's son 

 and myself occupying one. Upon reaching a great, dry salt-bush plain 

 we separated. The other buggy soon became lost to our view in the 

 distant dancmg mii-age. Tiu-keys tolerably nunier^oiLs — some flying iu 

 pairs in their own singulai- fashion, with heavy flight and outstretched 

 necks ; others stalking erectly through the salt-bush, now and again 

 ' planting. Selected one and commenced a process of great-cii'cle-sailing 

 round it. 'Will the horses stand fii'e?' 'The near one will. I've 

 never tried the other; he can but kick up,' was my companion's quiet 

 reply. Circles becoming smaller — bird evidently mieasy, glancing first 

 from one side and then the other, at the same time quickening his foot- 

 steps. Now within shooting distance. ' Pull up !' Instantly the bird 

 rose with outstretched wings — a good target of over fifty inches in expanse 

 of wings. From the seat in the buggy i fired. ' Good shot ! That's 

 bagged him !' A fine male bird, about 14 lbs. weight, was soon on the 

 floor of the buggy. Had a few more shots. Fancy my shot was rather 

 Ught, as ^ plugged a bunch of feathers out of another ' chap ' which flew 

 away, apparently vmhurt. Was delighted with the behaviour of the 

 horses. They were evidently up to the business, because when I , fired 

 over their ears they never as much as moved a muscle. On anival home 

 at evening we ascertained the other buggy party had bagged three birds." 

 There have been arguments about the weight of Wild Turkeys. Gould 

 records the weight from 13 lbs. to 16 lbs., remarking that the male 

 considerably exceeds the female in size. A well-known game dealer in 

 Melbourne who used to have many birds passing tlrrough his hands quoted 



