HI 



Cardium fragile, Conch. Illustr. f. 68. Card, testa rotundatd, 

 tenui, l(svi, subequilaterd, postice jiaiild inflatd, albd,fusco-lineatd, 

 eptdermide fulvd indutd ; intus albd ad marginem rubescente ; 

 ad umbones Jlavd ; margine leviier sulcata. 



Long. 1-05; lat. 0*65 ; alt. 1- poll. 



The only specimen at present known is in the collection of the 

 Rev. F. J. Stainforth. We have no information as to its locality. 



Cardium foveolatum. Conch. Illustr. f. 65. Card, testa subro- 

 tundato-ovali, compressd, albd, costis 43, quarum 25 anterioribus 

 rotundatis, crenulatis, deinde posterioribus 10 Icevibus, subangu- 

 latis, extremis concavis, ad latera crenulatis. 

 Long. 1-45; lat. 090; alt. 1-55 poll. 

 Hab. ad oras Australiae (Swan River). 



The last libs on the posterior side are hollow, with crenulations 

 crossing them so as to form little pits. This species belongs to the 

 same section as C. muricatum, but it is much flatter and has a greater 

 number of ribs. 



Mr. Gould then read a paper on that most singular and anomalous 

 bird, the Brush Turkey (ra^a/Za Lathami) of New South Wales. The 

 author began by giving the opinions of various ornithologists as re- 

 gards its affinities, and especially quotes Mr. Swainson's account, in 

 which that author attempts to prove, that the bird in question is a 

 vulture. Mr. Gould proceeded to detail, from his own observations, 

 some interesting facts connected with its habits. The most remark- 

 able circumstance connected with the bird is, that it does not hatch 

 its own eggs, but employs for that purpose similar means to those 

 now in use for artificial incubation. For some weeks prior to the 

 period of laying, the Brush Turkey collects together an immense 

 mass of vegetable matter, varying from two to four cartloads, with 

 which it forms a pyramidal heap ; in this heap it plants its eggs, 

 about eighteen inches deep and from nine to twelve inches apart. 

 The eggs, which are always placed with the large end upwards, being 

 carefully covered, are then left to hatch by the heat engendered by 

 the decomposition of the surrounding matter. The heaps are formed 

 by the labours of several pairs of birds, and frequently contain as 

 many eggs as would fill a bucket. The eggs are white, about three 

 inches and three quarters long by two and a half in diameter, 

 and, having an excellent flavour, are eagerly sought after. A spe- 

 cimen of the Brush Turkey, which Mr. Gould had an opportunity of 

 observing in Mr. MacLeay's garden at Sydney, had formed a heap 

 in a shrubbery similar to that which it would have made in its native 

 woods. Around and over this heap the bird vvas seen to strut in the 

 same way as the domestic cock ; at the same time frequently utter- 

 ing a clucking noise. The flesh is of a pale salmon colour, juicy and 

 tender. After all he had seen of the bird in a state of nature, he 

 had no hesitation in assigning it a place among the Gallinacese, 

 among which it has a nearer alliance to Cracida than to any other 

 group ; at all events, it is in no way allied to the Vullurida, and is 



