4.56 Zoological Society :— 
are of a bright orange-red, shaded off near the tip with very light 
yellow. The cere around the eyes is also of a bright orange-red 
colour; the irides brownish black. Iwas informed that these birds 
are nearly extinct, from having been formerly eaten by the natives in 
great numbers, and of late years from being destroyed by wild cats ; 
and it is said that most of the Ground-Pigeons are following the fate 
of the Didunculus, from the same causes. Indeed, from my observa- 
tion of the living birds, they are very timid and stupid. On the fol- 
lowing day I examined the birds together. They are both moulting ; 
and the young bird has grown very much since [ last saw it, and is 
now larger in size than the adult specimen recently arrived. As 
there is no sexual distinction in the plumage, it is probable that size 
may be a distinguishing mark of the sexes ; and if so, these birds may 
prove to be male and female. On the 21st of August I completed 
my purchase of these birds for a very high price. I must thank 
the Council of the Acclimatization Societies of Sydney and Mel- 
bourne for the liberal resolutions passed by them to unite with me 
in the purchase of these rare birds, on account of the very high sum 
demanded for them, and to join with me in presenting them to the 
Zoological Society of London ; but, on mature reflection, considering 
the casualties to which they would be liable, I considered it would 
be more satisfactory to take upon myself the sole responsibility and 
expense. The adult bird often runs wildly about the cage, flapping 
its wings, and, when the door is open to receive food, makes every 
effort to escape. These birds run with great rapidity, elongating the 
body and depressing the head, and in the action of running resemble 
the Grouse. On the 12th of September the older bird refused food, 
which continued to the morning of the 14th of September, when 
several fits carried it off in the course of the day. I placed the bird 
entire in spirits, to enable a complete anatomical description of this 
bird to be given by my distinguished friend Professor Owen. The 
young bird seems tamer and more lively since the death of its com- 
panion ; it is probable the old bird being so wild terrified it. I ob- 
served a quantity of white powder (epithelium) about the cage lately, 
and also discolouring the water; it resembled the same kind of 
powder often observed from the White Cockatoos. On the 4th of 
October the bird did not feed well ; so we gave it some loquats (Lrio- 
botrya japonica), a fruit naturalized and abundant in New South 
Wales. The bird enjoyed the change ; it did not devour the pulp, but 
picked out the seeds, and cracked them into minute bits ; what por- 
tion was eaten I could not ascertain, but a pint of loquats was used 
daily in this way, as well as occasionally a little boiled potato. On 
the 7th of October the Didunculus was in excellent health, and the 
plumage is very much changed, as the head, neck, and breast are now 
of aslate-colour tinged with dark bottle-green. The bill has be- 
come of a bright orange-red, and the legs are nearly a bright scarlet 
colour: the bird has evidently assumed the adult plumage. When 
the bird is seen, and does not perceive the observer, it leaps from the 
perch, runs about the cage, and then:commences feeding; but on a 
visitor approaching, it again takes to the perch, and remains watching 
