198 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



black on each side an oblong patch, and on its lower part a 

 crescent-shaped mark of white ; abdomen and under tail- 

 coverts deep rich chestnut-red ; irides hazel ; bill black ; feet 

 yellow. 



Total length 4|- inches ; bill -^ ; wing 2f ; tarsi 



The female has a broad stripe over each eye sandy buff; crown 

 of the head and all the upper surface dark brown, crossed by 

 fine bars of lighter brown, and each feather, particularly those 

 of the back and rump, with a line of buff down the centre ; 

 throat and centre of the abdomen buff; breast, sides of the 

 neck, flanks, and under tail-coverts sandy buff, crossed by 

 numerous crescentic marks of blackish brown ; irides dark 

 brown ; bill black ; feet yellow. 



Mr. Wallace sent to this country a new species of this 

 form, so diminutive in size that I question if it be not the 

 smallest gallinaceous bird yet discovered. A fine male of this 

 -^^--CiV species, bearing the name of Excalfatoria minima, Gould, 

 now graces the national collection, and a second specimen is 

 contained in my own. 



