SATIN BIRD. 307 



length of three feet generally, — although some 

 were even longer, — terminating in a space from 

 six to eight inches broad, where the eggs are laid . 

 no nest was constructed, and, on examining the 

 first burrow, I found four young ones reposing 

 upon the bare sand. I covered the burrow as 

 well as possible, leaving the young ones to a 

 mother's care, who soon returned to her progeny. 

 Other burrows contained from four to five white 

 nearly round eggs. The length of these birds 

 was ten inches from the beak to the two project- 

 ing tail feathers, which last were usually an inch 

 and a half beyond the others : the irides were 

 of a beautiful bright-red colour. 



There are several species of birds seen here 

 during the summer season, migrating in the 

 winter, and others returning in the winter, and 

 taking their departure in the summer. Observa- 

 tions upon the migration of birds in this colony 

 would be interesting, as the accounts are often 

 contradictory. The elegant " satin-bird," (^Pti- 

 linorynchus of Temminck,) it is said, leaves the 

 Murrumbidgee country during summer, return- 

 ing in autumn : it is also mentioned, that the 

 aborigines never kill this bird.* 



Cattle and sheep stations now extend for some 



* The aboriginies call our domestic fowls, as well as all 

 birds, by the general name of " Bujan. 



X 2 



