187C] NORTH-EASTERN QUEENSLAND. 119 



heavy ; and they do not readily take wing, unless pursued bv a dog, 

 when they rise with a considerable flapping to the most convenient 

 branch, where they are easily approached and shot. Their flesh 

 is dark, rank, and tough. 



The young, about 5 inches in length, are of a dull brown, ashv 

 brown on the sides of the face, neck, and mantle, and on the 

 abdomen of a lighter ashy brown, rufous brown on the flanks, and 

 brown washed with rufous on the breast ; the back, rump, and tail 

 of a rich rufous brown ; primaries dark brown ; interscapular region 

 and upper wing-coverts dark brown, tipped with light rufous ; the 

 secondaries and scapulars freckled, and margined on the outer web 

 with light rufous ; the outer series of secondary-coverts and outer 

 scapulars barred and freckled with the same colour ; iris dark brown ; 

 feet yellow. Total length 5 5 inches, bill "45, wing 15, tarsus 1 inch, 

 tail a tuft of down about 1 inch in length. 



191. TURNIX VARIUS. 



192. TURNIX PYRRHOTHORAX. 



193. TuRNIX VELOX. 



I met with these three species occasionally. They were looked 

 upon as scarce birds in the Herbert-river district. T. varius prefers 

 the more open forest land ; the other two I found on the margins of 

 the open grass-flats, and in the vicinity of water-holes and lagoons &c. 



194. Synoicus australis. 



195. Excalfactoria australis. 



I found both species plentiful in the swampy parts of the grass- 

 beds, and on grassy ridges generally throughout the district, and 

 obtained young a few days old of S. australis in March. 



196. Dromaius nov^e-hollandijE. 



Emus were not plentiful, and so hunted that they are only found 

 now in the unfrequented parts of the district. I met their tracks 

 only on one occasion on the inland side of the range, in the basin 

 drained by the Herbert river. 



197. Casuarius australis. 



One of the chief objects of my visit to Rockingham Bay was to 

 become acquainted with the habits of this noble bird. In 18f>7 I 

 had sent my collector, Edward Spalding, to this district for this pur- 

 pose, but with very poor results. While in Brisbane on my way up 

 I purchased by telegram a fine young living specimen, the first that 

 had been obtained and reared, and ultimately succeeded in bringing 

 it alive to Sydney and shipping it to the Society, where I am glad to 

 hear it arrived safely*. I found also that several very young Casso- 

 waries had been obtained, and, for the first time, a nest and eggs had 

 been found. This was great news ; and I need not relate how I made 

 * See P. Z. S. 1875, p. 469. -Ed. 



