32 



qua, subovalis ; perist. simplex, rectum, margine columellari 



parum dilatato, sublibero. 

 Long. 16, diam. 7f mill. 

 Hab. Sandwich Islands (Dr. Frick). 

 Nearest allied to A. variegata, Pfr. 



5. Notes on the "Mooruk" (Castjarius Bennettii). 

 By George Bennett. 



On the 26th of October 1858, the ' Oberon ' cutter of forty-eight 

 tons arrived in Sydney, having two fine young specimens of the 

 " Mooruk " on board, stated to be male and female. On going on 

 board I found them confined in a very small space, and the Captain 

 informed me he had had them eight months, that he procured 

 them soon after his arrival at New Britain for Sydney, and since 

 that time had been trading about the islands, having these birds on 

 board ; they were fed principally upon yams. I observed they were 

 in poor condition, but healthy in appearance, and plumage in good 

 order. They were about half the size of the specimen sent to En- 

 gland ; but one, apparently the male bird, appeared a little larger 

 than the other. Captain Devlin informs me that the natives capture 

 them very young, soon after they are hatched, and rear them by 

 hand. The natives rarely or never can capture the adult bird, as 

 they are so very shy and difficult of approach, — the native weapons 

 being ineffectual against so rapid and wary a bird. These birds are 

 very swift of foot and possess great strength in the legs ; on the 

 least alarm they elevate the head, and, seeing danger, dart among 

 the thick brush, and thread about in localities where no human 

 being could follow them, and disappear like magic. This bird, with 

 its strong legs and muscular thighs, has an extraordinary power of 

 leaping : it was from this circumstance the first bird brought from 

 New Britain was lost ; from its habit of leaping, it one day made a 

 spring on the deck and went overboard ; as it was blowing a strong 

 breeze at the time, the bird perished. In warm weather, the Captain 

 informs me, they are fond of having a bucket of salt water thrown 

 over them, and seem to enjoy it very much. I succeeded in pur- 

 chasing these birds ; and Captain Slater (the present commander of 

 the 'Oberon') brought them to my house in a cab; and when 

 placed in the yard, they walked about as tame as turkeys. They ap- 

 proached any one that came into the yard, pecking the hand as if 

 desirous of being fed, and were very docile. They began by pecking 

 at a bone in the yard, probably not having tasted any meat for some 

 time, and would not, while engaged upon it, touch some boiled pota- 

 toes which were thrown to them ; indeed we found afterwards they 

 fed better out of a dish than from the ground — no doubt, having been 

 accustomed early to be fed in that manner. They were as familiar 

 as if born and bred among us for years, and did not require time to 

 reconcile them to their new situation, but became sociable and quite 

 at home at once. "We found them next day rather too tame, or, like 



