Dr. G. Bennett on Didunculus striguostris. 455 



mountain-plantain. Both the birds were regularly fed twice daily — 

 early in the morning and about four in the afternoon. It was sup- 

 posed at one time that these birds did not drink water ; but I soon 

 found that this assertion was incorrect. 



It was early in June 1863 that the first Didunculus arrived at 

 Sydney ; and on the loth of that month and following days I exa- 

 mined the bird, which I found in good health, very timid, and a 

 young bird in immature plumage, and the teeth of the lower man- 

 dibles not yet developed. It was about the size of the Nicobar Pi- 

 geon, but rounder and more plump in form. It kept steadily looking 

 at me during the time I was examining it, uttering occasionally a 

 plaintive coo, coo, coo, or ffoo, goo, goo. This bird had been cap- 

 tured on the island of Upolu, not more than five miles from the set- 

 tlement of Apia, by a native. It has now been in captivity for some 

 time, and is considered to be at this time (January 1864) two years 

 old. It has attained the full plumage of the adult bird, and the 

 teeth of the lower mandibles are also fully developed. When any 

 one approaches the cage, it will sometimes retire to an obscure corner, 

 and at other times will remain quiet on the perch, watching atten- 

 tively every movement of the spectator, and occasionally changing its 

 position. It invariably feeds in the light, but will not do so if any 

 one is present ; the only opportunity we had of observing its mode 

 of feeding was through the window, when the bird was placed in 

 the verandah of the house, when we could watch its actions with- 

 out being seen by the bird. It usually kept on the low perch, but 

 when disturbed would sometimes jump on the ground, run rapidly 

 about, and then take refuge in the darkest part of the cage. In its 

 physiognomy it is a stupid-looking bird, with, at the same time, a 

 remarkable peculiarity of expression, which the artist has succeeded 

 in obtaining. The bird has nothing particular in its plumage to attract 

 the attention of the common observer ; but the head of a rapacious 

 bird on the body of a Pigeon would excite the attention of the most 

 ordinary spectator. The plumage of this bird is of a chocolate-red 

 colour, deeper on the back, tail, and the primaries and secondaries 

 of the wings, and barred over the breast, throat, and wing-coverts 

 with light brown. The upper part of the head is rather bare of 

 feathers, but those remaining are of a dark slate-colour. The base 

 of the beak is of an orange- red, and the rest of the mandibles yel- 

 lowish. The legs and feet are of a bright orange-red. The cere 

 round the eyes is of a flesh-colour. The irides are of a dark reddish 

 brown. The form of the beak and the bright eyes impart to the 

 bird very much the character of a rapacious bird. The above is the 

 state of the plumage in the young bird. 



On the '24th of July another Didunculus was brought to Sydney 

 from the Island of Savaii (one of the largest and most mountainous 

 of the Navigators' group). I found it was a full-grown bird in 

 adult plumage, with the teeth of the lower mandible well developed ; 

 the head, neck, breast, and upper part of the back was of a green- 

 ish black ; back, wings, tail, and under tail-coverts of a chocolate- 

 red. The legs and feet were of a bright scarlet. The mandibles 



