88 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



its hoarse, unearthly cry, which resembles the words more- 

 pork ; it approaches the immediate vicinity of the houses, and 

 frequently emits this sound while perched in their verandahs. 



The Podargus Cuvieri builds a neatly formed flat nest, about 

 seven inches in diameter, in the fork of an horizontal branch ; 

 the exterior formed of small sticks, and the interior of the 

 fibrous portions of various plants ; the eggs are white, and 

 nearly of a true oval in form, being one inch and nine lines 

 long by one inch and three lines broad. 



Considerable variation occurs in the colouring of individuals, 

 the prevailing tint being a dull ashy grey, while others are of 

 a rich chestnut hue ; but whether this be indicative of imma- 

 turity, or characteristic of the fully adult plumage of the two 

 sexes, I have not been able to satisfy myself. 



Lores brown, each feather tipped with mealy white, forming 

 a line before and above the eye; feathers of the forehead 

 mealy white, blending into the dull ashy grey of the head and 

 back, all the feathers of which have a stripe of blackish brown 

 down the centre, terminating in a small spot of white, and 

 are moreover minutely freckled with greyish white and dark 

 brown ; wing-coverts chestnut, each tipped with an oval spot 

 of white bounded posteriorly with black, forming a line across 

 the wing ; remainder of the wing brown, mottled with greyish 

 white, arranged, particularly on the primaries, in the form of 

 irregular bars ; scapularies washed with buff and with a broad 

 stripe of blackish brown down the centre ; under surface 

 brownish grey, minutely freckled with white, and with a nar- 

 row line of blackish brown down the centre; sides of the 

 neck washed with chestnut ; tail grey, minutely freckled with 

 greyish white and black, assuming the form of broad irregular 

 bands, each feather with a small spot of white at the tip ; 

 iiides varying from yellow to reddish yellow and hazel ; feet 

 olive-brown. 



Other examples have the general tint rich chestnut-brown, 

 with all the markings larger and more decided. 



