456 Zoological Society : — 



are of a bright orange-red, shaded off near the tip with very Hght 

 yellow. The cere around the eyes is also of a bright orange-red 

 colour; the irides brownish black. I was 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 I 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 (Erio- 

 botrya japonica), a fruit naturalized and abundant in New South 

 Wales. The bird enjoj^ed 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 a slate- 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 



