212 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



on the bare ground during September and the four following 

 months. They vary considerably in colour, as well as in the 

 form of their markings ; their usual ground-colour is pale 

 buff, thickly blotched all over with umber-brown ; they are 

 about two inches and a quarter long by one inch and five- 

 eighths broad. 



The markings and general appearance of the two sexes are 

 so similar, that it is scarcely possible to distinguish the male 

 from the female without the aid of dissection. 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, and back grey, each 

 feather with a line of brownish black down the centre ; space 

 surrounding the eye white, bounded in front and below with 

 a narrow streak, which, as well as the ear-coverts and a broad 

 stripe down each side of the neck, is dark brown ; lores and 

 chin white -, scapularies blackish brown, margined at the base 

 with grey ; the upper rows of wing-coverts brown, the lower 

 ones white, tipped with brown, all with a broad stripe of 

 black down the centre ; primaries brownish black, crossed 

 towards the extremities by a broad irregular band of white ; 

 tertiaries light brown, with a dark stripe down the centre, 

 and margined with white ; tail brown, crossed by several 

 bands of white and dark brown, and largely tipped with 

 black ; breast and abdomen buffy white, with a broad stripe 

 of brownish black down the centre of each feather; lower 

 part of the abdomen white ; bill black ; irides yellow ; eye- 

 lash black ; legs sickly yellowish olive, gradually passing into 

 the brown of the feet. 



It has for a long time appeared to me that a second species 

 of this form exists on the northern coast, since I have received 

 specimens from thence which have longer tarsi and shorter 

 wings. If this be the case, the species is undescribed ; but 

 if these birds be identical with the present, then the range is 

 greater than I have stated. 



