THE PLAIN WANDERERS, 291 
the feathers of the top of the head, back and shoulder-feathers 
margined with whitish-buff, and with the vanes free, giving the 
plumage a Rhea-like appearance; chin and middle of throat 
white ; breast and rest of under-parts buff barred with black, 
except in the middle of the belly. ‘Total length, 6°3 inches ; 
wing, 4; tail, 1°63; tarsus, 1. 
Range.—Australia ; New South Wales, Victoria, South Aus- 
tralia, and the interior. 
Habits.—Sir George Grey says :—‘“ These birds are migra- 
tory ; they appear at Adelaide in June, and disappear about 
January ; where they go has not yet been ascertained. They 
never fly if they can avoid so doing, and are often caught by 
dogs ; when disturbed they crouch down and endeavour to hide 
themselves in a tuft of grass. While running about they are in 
the habit of raising themselves in a nearly perpendicular posi- 
tion on the extremities of their toes, so that the hinder part 
of the foot does not touch the ground, and of taking a wide 
survey around them. . . . The call of those we have in 
confinement precisely resembles that of the Emu, not the 
whistle, but the hollow-sounding noise like that produced by 
tapping on a cask which the Emu utters, but it is, of course, 
much fainter.” 
October and November are said to be the principal breeding 
months. 
Nest.—Made of dry grasses, and placed in a slight depres- 
sion in the ground, under the shelter of a shrub or tuft of 
grass. 
Eggs.—Four in number; pyriform; ground colour stone- 
white, thickly freckled and blotched with umber-brown and 
vinous-grey, the latter colour appearing as if beneath the 
surface of the shell. Average measurements, 1°35 by 0°94 
inch. 
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