with the gular poucli, or loose skin of the throat and upper portion of the neck, distended in a 

 most extraordinary manner. With expanded and elevated tail-feathers and drooping wings he 

 struts majestically along, with the lengthened feathers on the loose skin of the neck swaying from 

 side to side. 



Writing from Kipple Creek, Herbert River, North-eastern Oueensland, on the 22nd April, 

 1892, Mr. J. A. Boyd remarks; — "The water holes are dry; I have seen more Bustards 

 during the last fortnight than in the previous eight years." 



Dr. W. IMacgillivray sent me tlie following notes regarding this species m the Cloncurry 

 District, Northern Queensland: — '' Enpodotis niistynlis is still very plentiful throughout this 

 district, the grassy plains with their abundance of insect life afTording an unlimited supply of 

 food. This is shown by the fact that the birds as a rule rear a pair of young ones, whereas in 

 the western parts of New South Whales, where conditions are not so favourable, very rarely is 

 more than one egg laid. In the mating season the males have a habit similar to that of the 

 domestic Turkey of strutting about with neck feathers hanging down, tail expanded and wings 

 spread out. As an illustration of the protective instinct showing itself at an early age, my 

 brother once came across a nest in which one young one had just hatched out, and the other 

 not (]uite ; the hatched one, on hearing his approach, crawled out of the nest and hid in the grass." 



Dr. Walter E. Koth, late Northern Protector of .Aborigines, Oueensland, wrote as follows 

 regarding the mode of capture of this species by the natives: — " The so called Turkey Bustard 

 (Eiipodotis austvalis) may be speared, the commonest method as a general rule everyw'here. In 

 the Boulia District it is either caught with a grasshopper and noose fixed to the extremity of a 

 long thin switch, held by the hunter, who gradually creeps forward unobserved, enveloped in 

 boughs and bushes, or else quietly surrounded in the open. In the latter case numerous fires 

 are simultaneously raised in more or less of the line of a circle right round the group of 

 unsuspecting birds, which, dazed with the smoke and din now suddenly evolved, are rushed 

 upon and easily knocked over with boomerangs or nullas." 



From Copmanhurst, New South Wales, Mr. George Savidge wrote: — " A few Bustards 

 (Eiipodotis anstralis) put in an appearance during the dry seasons of 1901 and 1902. They did 

 not remain long. It is not usual to find these birds in the Clarence River District." 



Under date 30th January, 11(13, '^^'"- Thos. I'. Austin wrote as follows from Cobborah Station, 

 Cobbora, New South Wales: — " .\lthough at one time I am told Bustards ( Eupodolis anstralis) 

 were occasionally seen in this district, I do not think they were ever very plentiful, but during 

 ths first year (1900) I lived here, one of these line l)irds remained in my house paddock for 

 some weeks. Since then I have not even heard of one being seen within sixty miles. I am 

 glad to say that in parts of Queensland and Western Australia they are still very numerous. 

 .\ friend from the Longreach District, Central Queensland, only last year informed me they 

 are still to be seen there in hundreds, and at certain times of the year, while mustering sheep 

 a great number' of their eggs are to be found ; it was quite a common thing to obtain half 

 a dozen by dinner time. About fifteen years ago Bustards were fairly plentiful in the 

 Western District of N'ictoria, especially on Avalon Station, twelve miles north from Geelong, 

 this being the only place I have ever found their eggs. During October, 1S89, while riding at 

 a canter with one of my brothers through a large open paddock, we fluslied a Bustard from her 

 nest, in which was a single egg. We were riding about six feet apart, and as the bird flew 

 from the nest when directly between the two horses, her out-stretched wings were beneath 

 their noses; upon looking down I saw the egg, which was (juite fresh. This close sitting is, 

 I believe, quite contrary to the usual custom, unless the bird was asleep, which is not likely, she 

 must have seen us coming for at least a quarter of a mile. In the same paddock I knew of 

 another nest with a single egg. This was on the side of a stony rise, and if approached from 

 the north I could get fairly close to the sitting bird before she could see me, but coming towards 



