286 ALLEN5 NATURALISTS LIBRARY. 



with irregular white black-edged spots ; eyebrow-stripes, sides of 

 face and throat white, tipped with black, the chin and middle 

 of throat white : feathers of the chest grey, with a spatulate buff 

 shaft-stripe : breast buff, mixed with grey ; belly pale buff: bill 

 fairly stout. Total length, 7*6 inches: wing, 4*2; tail, 1*9; 

 tarsus, 0.9. 



Ean^e. — Australia. Recorded from Xew Caledonia, but the 

 bird from this island may prove to be distinct. 



Habits. — Mr. Gould says : — '* Among the Game Birds of Aus- 

 tralia, the Varied Tumix plays a rather prominent part, for 

 although its flesh is not so good for the table as that of the little 

 Partridge and Quail {Synoicus ausiralis and Cotur;iix pectorans), 

 it is a bird which is not to be despised when the game-bag is emp- 

 tied at the end of a day's sport, for it forms an acceptable variety 

 to its contents. Although it does not actually associate with 

 either ot the birds mentioned above, it is often found in the 

 same districts, and all three species may be procured in the 

 course of a morning's walk in many parts of New South Wales, 

 Victoria, and South Australia, where it frequents sterile stony 

 ridges, interspersed with scrubby trees and moderately thick 

 grass. 



'* It is also ver}- common in all parts of Tasmania suitable to 

 its habits, hills of moderate elevation and of a dry stony 

 character being the localities preferred ; it is also numerous on 

 the sandy and sterile islands in Bass's Straits. 



'•' It runs very quickly, and when flushed flies low, its pointed 

 wings giving it much the appearance of a Snipe or Sandpiper. 

 When running or walking over the ground, the neck is 

 stretched out and the head carried ver}' high, which, together 

 with the rounded contour of the back, give it a very 

 grotesque appearance. The breeding-season commences in 

 August or September, and terminates ia January, during which 

 period at least two broods are reared. 



"The note is a loud and plaintive sound, which is often 

 repeated, particularly during the pairing-season. 



