1862.] LETTER FROM DR. G. BENNETT. 85 
“We get plenty of Koalas, or Native Monkeys (Phascolarctos 
cinereus). These animals are very tame, and have been fed some 
time on gum-leaves (their natural food), some on bread and milk, 
&e., but still they do not survive longer than six weeks at the 
furthest. They die plump and in excellent condition; so it cannot 
be starvation that kills them. Not a week passes but I could pur- 
chase them of all ages for from 10s. to 15s. each, as they are brought 
by the coasting vessels from the Patterson and other parts of this 
colony. I propose, as soon as we have a piece of ground allotted for 
our Acclimatization Society, to enclose some trees with zine wire and 
give them liberty within its range, and see if by such a method we 
shall be enabled to domesticate them, and find some method of 
feeding them, so as to send them to Europe. 
“We have not yet procured any male Brush-Turkeys, but have 
sent orders to various parts of the colony, more especially the Cla- 
rence River district. We intend to domesticate them, so as to keep 
up a supply for exchanges. These birds are everywhere becoming 
scarcer, from the wholesale destruction of them and their eggs by 
the aborigines, and we find the only sure means of procuring either 
eggs or birds is by the aid of the blacks. 
‘Two fine young and healthy specimens of a Hornbill (probably 
Buceros ruficollis) were brought from the Island of Guadalcamar, 
one of the Solomon group, in the schooner ‘ Coquette,’ as also an 
elegant Pigeon from the same island, and a species of Gallinule from 
Tanna (New Hebrides group), called ‘'Tarbach’ by the natives of 
Sandwich Island (another of the same group), and ‘ Bush-fowl’ by 
the missionaries at Tanna. They are all alive, and were brought by 
two Belgian gentlemen (Captain Mechel and M. R. Alain), who have 
placed them in my charge to be transmitted to you for the Duc de 
Brabant. Ihave accepted the offer, as, if they arrive alive, you and 
Mr. Gould will be able to inspect and, if new, describe them. I 
intend sending them with the Kagus. 
‘These birds have been fed principally on yams, potatoes, bread, 
and bananas, and occasionally a very minute portion of meat. The 
plumage of the head, neck, and breast is of a light auburn-brown 
colour, and the rest of the plumage of a beautiful black, except the 
tail, which is white. The naked portion round the eye is of a light 
blue colour. The naked portion of the throat and cheeks is white, 
with a delicate shade of light blue. The eyelids are of a reddish 
tinge, and eyelashes long. Inides of a light grey colour. The man- 
dibles are horny, of a dirty white colour, but near the base a tinge 
of dark red colour prevails. The feet and legs are black. 
**T intend sending Mr. Gould, by the ‘ La Hogue,’ an egg of a 
species of Megapodius. It measures 3 inches in length and 1? inch 
in breadth, and is of a light brownish or ‘ café-au-lait’ colour. The 
eges are found over all the islands of tle New Hebrides group, and 
are eaten by the natives, as the eggs of the Leipoa and Megapodius 
by the aborigines of Australia. The egg in my possession was 
given to me by Captain McLeod, of the ‘ Eliza K. Bateson,’ who 
procured it at the Island of Nua Fou, where it is named ‘ Mallow’ 
