10 BIRDS or AUSTRALIA. 



of South Australia that I visited ; the eastern and northern 

 portions of Austraha are evidently those most frequented 

 by it. 



The eggs, which are white, are generally three in number, 

 about an inch and a half long by an inch and an eighth 

 broad. 



The sexes do not vary in coloiKing and scarcely in size, 

 but individuals differ considerably in the depth of the tint of 

 the under surface, some being nuich deeper than others, and 

 in the extent of the bare space round the eye. 



Crown of the head pale rosy white ; all the upper surface 

 grey, deepening into brown at the extremity of the wings and 

 tail, and becoming nearly white on the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts ; sides of the neck, all the under sm^face from below 

 the eyes and the under surface of the shoulder rich deep rosy 

 red ; thighs and under tail-coverts grey ; irides rich deep rosy 

 red ; orbits brick-red ; bill white ; feet mealy dark brown. 



The young at first are covered with long, fine downy fea- 

 thers, which at an early age give place to the colours which 

 characterize the plumage of the adult. 



Genus LICMETIS, fVagler, 



The two species forming the genus Licmetis are not only 

 confined to Australia, but, so far as we yet know, to the 

 southern portions of that continent, one inhabiting the western 

 and the other the eastern part of the country. Their singu- 

 larly formed bill being admirably adapted for procuring their 

 food on the ground, they are more terrestrial in their habits 

 than the other members of the family. 



They appear to be allied to the Nestors in form, but are 

 more quiet and sedate in disposition ; and moreover diflPer 

 from them in having longer wings and in their plumage being 

 nearly uniform white. 



