BUSTARD. 187 



the eyes and most of the throat ; a linear dark line runs from the gape probably 

 meeting the loral line ; the interramal space is dark coloured as is the centre of the 

 throat, indistinct linear edges to the throat patch darker ; the down on the rump is 

 fawn profusely mottled with black, the flank and thigh down fawn with brownish 

 markings on the thighs. The feathers on the back of the head are black with fawn 

 markings and narrow fawn tips ; those of the back are reddish-fawn with black 

 vermiculations, the scapulars showing brown tips of fawn with a black edging 

 posteriorly, of a triangular shape ; the lesser wing-coverts are similarly reddish- 

 fawn but the black vermiculations scantier and no broad fawn tipping ; the second- 

 aries, however, approach the scapulars in style of marking, but not in so pronounced 

 a manner ; the apparent primary -coverts are pale fawn with irregular black markings 

 in bar formation and broad fawn bars to tips ; primaries just sprouting with black 

 tips ; tail scarcely showing as such ; the tail-coverts as the back feathers ; under- 

 surface pale sandy. 



Nestling (in similar plumage procured at same time but larger, probably male). 

 The down has been lost from fore-head, which shows feathering as back of head in 

 preceding but darker ; the dark patch on throat more pronounced and shown ng 

 distinctly a central light patch followed by a darker line, and a darker line surrounding 

 the whole, and also less distinctly darker lines on the lower throat ; also the feathering 

 on the breast is seen to consist of vermiculated feathers similar to those of the back, 

 while the feathers of the under-surface are paler than in the above. The feathers 

 of the back are longer and show much darker vermiculation and much smaller buff 

 tips, less triangular in shape, the black edging straighter ; the edges of the wings are 

 as above described, but the lesser wing-coverts generally agree with the description 

 of the primary -coverts above and the broad tips are much more pronounced, making 

 a pale fawnish bar and proving them to be the secondary coverts ; the primary- 

 coverts are just seen in connection with the primaries as much darker vermiculated 

 feathers with black bars and narrow tips of darker fawn and the primaries are longer 

 with minute fawnish tips to their black colour ; tail not yet discernible. 



Nest. None made. 



Eggs. Clutch, one to two ; ground-colour reddish-brown with blotches of 

 darker brown all over ; axis 75 mm. by 55 ; eggs from West Australia are smaller, 

 darker, and more heavily blotched than those from the eastern side of the continent. 



Breeding-season. May to November. 



Distribution and forms. Confined to Australia. Three subspecies may be 

 admitted : A. a. australis (Gray) from the East coast; A. a. derbyi (Mathews) from 

 the North-west coast, a much browner and smaller form; and A. a. melvillensis 

 (Mathews) from Melville Island, a blue-grey form also larger than the preceding. 

 There are probably more subspecies, but long series of these variable birds have 

 never been collected owing to their edible qualities. 



ORDER PSOPHII OR GRUES. 



This order includes large birds of varied superficial appearance and doubtful 

 close relationship. Three suborders, Cariamiformes, Psophiiformes and Eurypygi- 

 formes, are recognised, the last named a heterogeneous assemblage of peculiar forms, 

 Eurypygidse, Rhinochetidae and Mesitidse. As one authority has written : "If we 

 don't put these here, where have we to put them ? " This was written from the 

 study of the anatomy and osteology of the forms, and is good evidence of the 

 futility of attempting to classify birds by the " deeper-seated " features without 

 complete study of the external items. All the items yet depended upon are variable, 

 the palate is generally schizognathous, the nasals schizorhinal, but sometimes 

 holorhinal ; basipterygoid processes are absent and supraorbital grooves and occipital 

 fontanelles absent or present. The sternum has the posterior margin entire or 



