290 Allen's naturalist's library. 



Nest.— Slightly constructed of grasses placed in a shallow 

 depression of the ground, under the shelter of a small tuft of 

 grass. {Gould.) 



Eggs. — Four in number ; broad ovals ; of a dirty white, 

 either finely freckled all over or thickly blotched with mark- 

 ings of reddish-brown, light brown, and slate grey. Measure- 

 ments, 0-95 by 075 inch. 



THE PLAIN-WANDERERS. GENUS PEDIONOMUS. 

 %^_ Pedionomus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1840, p. 114. 



Type, P. torquatus, Gould. 

 Distinguished from the genus Tiirnix by possessing a small 

 hind toe (hallux). 



Only one species is known. 



I. THE COLLARED PLAIN-WANDERER. PEDIONOMUS 

 TORQUATUS. 



Pediononms torquatus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1840, p. 114; id. B 

 Austr. V. pi. 80 (1848); Diggles, B. Austr. ii. pt. xv. pi. 

 195 (1867); North, Nests and Eggs B. Austr. p. 288 

 (1889); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 544 



(1893)- 

 Pediono7nus miavurus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1842, p. 20. 

 Turnix gouldiana (Des Murs) ; Bonap. Compt. Rend. xlii. p. 

 881(1856). 



Adult Male.— Differs from the female in having no rust-coloui 

 on the nape ; the collar round the neck buff and brownish, not 

 differing so conspicuously in colour from the rest of the 

 plumage ; the upper-chest washed with bright buff. Total 

 length, 5-8 inches; wing, 3*4; tail, i'2; tarsus, 0-9. 



Adult Female.— General colour above brown, finely barred 

 with black ; a collar of black white-tipped feathers surrounding 

 the neck; nape and upperpart of chest rust-colour ; most of 



