426 
feet. in 
From cloaca middle to navel middle..... Avert Da 
From pectoral to pectoral, beneath ........ 18 
The latter measurement shows a character that the figures gene- 
rally misrepresent, the closeness and lowness of the pectoral fins : they 
are generally represented as if they were about one-third up the sides 
of the body, and consequently far apart; but Mr. Beardsworth par- 
ticularly says that they are so low on the sides, that a stick placed 
across the body, under the fins, would touch the base of each. 
3. Notes oN THE REPRODUCTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN WATTLE- 
BIRD (TALEGALLA LATHAMI) IN THE Society’ s GARDENS. 
By A. D. BartLett. 
The pair of Talegallas kept in the Gardens of the Society, during 
the spring and summer of the present year formed a large mound 
composed of leaves, grass, earth, and other materials. Within 
this mound the female deposited twenty eggs. The time of laying, 
the interval of time between each egg, and the period of incubation 
are at present unknown to me. 
But on the morning of the 26th of August a young Talegalla 
crept out of the mound, and, quite regardless of its parent, ran about 
searching for worms and other insects, upon which it fed with as 
much adroitness and apparent knowledge as the chick of a common 
fowl would exhibit at a month old. 
Towards night this young bird flew about among the branches of 
the trees and shrubs in search of a safe roosting-place, and, having 
selected one about 6 feet from the ground, settled down and appeared 
as comfortable and unconcerned as an adult bird,—the female taking 
no notice whatever of her offspring. 
Upon carefully looking into the mound two days afterwards (on the 
28th), I observed a second young bird moving about and busily 
engaged cleaning its feathers with its bill, the wing-feathers at this 
time being encased in quill-sheaths. This young bird remained in the 
mound about twenty-four hoursafter ithad escaped from the shell; and 
during this time the wing and other feathers were freed from their 
covering, so that the bird was enabled to fly immediately upon quit- 
ting the mound, which it did on the morning of the 29th. This second 
young bird conducted himself in the same manner as his predecessor. 
The two young birds took no notice whatever of each other, or of 
the old female, the three birds appearing perfectly independent of 
each other, eating, drinking, and roosting separately ; and although 
an occasional small voice was heard from the young birds, it did not 
appear to indicate or excite any notice among them. These young 
birds grow amazingly—so rapidly, that at the age of three months 
they can scarcely be distinguished from the adult birds. 
The foregoing observations lead me to believe that two or three 
