Length, 4-2 inches ; wing, 2| ; bill, i (nearly) ; tarsus, i. 



Every portion of Australasia, except, perhaps, Tasmania and Western Australia, is frequented by this beautiful species. Its 

 favorite haunts are open, flat, swampy situations, without trees. It is nearly impossible to flush it without the aid of a well trained dog. It 

 rises with a loud burr, but seldom flies far, and on setting, drops like a stone ; but is so easily tired, as to allow itself to be taken alive rather 

 than fly, preferring to stick its head in a tuft of grass, and remaining perfectly quiescent in the presence of the pointer, by watching whose 

 nose it may be secured. It is plentiful near Brisbane, as many as fifty pair having been shot by Mr. Cockerell in a hundred acre paddock in 

 a fortnight. The nest has a small run leading to it, and is situated under an overhanging tuft of grass, in a small depression, lined with root 

 fibres, forming a structure sufiiciently strong to allow the eggs to be lifted upon it : they are four or five in number, nearly 1 inch long 

 by ii, and rather pointed at the small end ; color, creamy whitish grey, finely sprinkled all over with blacki&h brown : some have also a few 

 dark blotches of brown on the large end. The young are curious little things, and follow the parents like chickens. The forehead, throat, 

 and face, are of a light olive buff"; the rest of the plumage, blackish brown, barred above with huffish chestnut, and with a sharp, whitish streak 

 down the centre of each feather. 



