34 



fall flat as before : they appear to have great power in raising all the 

 feathers ; and the wings are used to aid them in running, but never 

 seem used for defence. Captain Devlin says, the natives consider 

 them to a certain degree sacred, and rear them as pets ; he is not 

 aware that they are used as food, but if so, not generally ; indeed 

 their shy disposition and power of rapid running, darting through 

 the brake and bush, would almost preclude their capture. It re- 

 minds me (from the description) of the habits of the Menura, or Lyre 

 bird of Australia ; only it is much larger and more powerful in its 

 actions. The natives carry them in their arms, and are very kind 

 to and have a great affection for them ; this will account for their 

 domesticated state with us. 



The noise of these birds, when in the yard, resembled that of the 

 female Turkey ; at other times the peculiar chirping noise was ac- 

 companied by a whistling sound also. The contrast of these birds 

 with the Jabiru was very great. The " Mooruks " were sometimes 

 moving about like the female Turkey in rapid motion or excite- 

 ment, or, when walking quietly, always inquisitive and poking their 

 beaks into everything and familiar with every person. The Jabiru, 

 on the other hand, was a perfect picture of sedate quietness, looking 

 upon all play as injurious to his constitution or derogatory to his 

 dignity, remaining stiff in his gait and serious in his demeanour. 



Only one egg was brought, and that was partly broken ; I have it 

 in my possession. The Captain informs me that they can be pro- 

 cured from the natives, and have generally a hole in them about the 

 size of a shilling, through which the contents have been extracted. 



The height of the largest or male bird, to the top of the back, was 

 2 feet 2 inches, and of the female 2 feet. The height of the largest 

 or male bird, when erect, to the top of the head, was 3 feet 2 inches, 

 and of the female 3 feet. 



6. Description of the Adult State of Voluta mamilla, 

 Gray. By Dr. J. E, Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., etc. 



(Mollusca, PI. XLV.) 



We have had in the British Museum for years a young specimen 

 of a shell from Van Diemen's Land, which I named Voluta ma- 

 milla. It is figured under that name in Sowerby's ' Conchological 

 Thesaurus,' t. 50. f. 57, 58 ; it is described by me in my "Obser- 

 vations on the Species of Volutes," Proc. Zool. Soc. 1855, p. 55, 

 imder the name of Scapha mamilla ; and it is noticed under the genus 

 Cymbiiim, by the Messrs. A. and H. Adams, in their 'Genera of 

 Mollusca.' 



But many conchologists have been inclined to regard this specimen 

 as only a monstrosity of some other species, — an idea that could only 

 have been entertained by such as were ignorant of the general struc- 

 ture and physiology of molluscous animals. 



