292 STBDTHIONID^E. 



colour is a dirty olive-yellow ; others again are almost brown, 

 with black dots. This species is known by our Sydney sportsmen 

 under the name of the " King Quail," and is by most people 

 considered a rare bird ; but if its natural haunts be visited it will 

 be found plentiful enough, although hard to " rise." It shows 

 preference for the long tall grass in low damp situations, 

 particularly bordering swamps and lagoons. The nest is like that 

 of the rest of the family, a few pieces of grass, upon which the 

 eggs are laid, but on the whole greatly depending on the nature 

 of the ground. The breeding season lasts from August to January, 

 but in confinement they will lay at almost any time of the year. 

 The young upon leaving the shell are of a dusky hue, almost 

 black." (Ramsay, Ibis, 1868, Vol. iv., New Series, p. 279.) 



Hob. Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, 

 Richmond and Clarence Rivers Districts, New South Wales, 

 Victoria and South Australia. (^Hamsny.) 



Order GKALLATORES. 



Family STKUTHIONIDiE. 



Genus DKOMAIUS, Vieillot. 



DROMAIUS NOViE-HOLLANDI^, Latham. 



Emu. 



Gould, Handbk. Bds. Ausi., Vol. ii., sp. 492, p. 200. ^E" /• 



This fine bird is found all over Australia, with the exception 

 of the North-western portions. It used to be at one time 

 common near the coast, but as the country became more thickly 

 populated, i,t was driven towards the interior, where its numbers 

 are fast decreasing, owing to the ruthless manner in which it is 

 hunted and shot down, and the wholesale destruction of its eggs 

 by men employed to search for, and break them, on account 

 of the damage done by the birds to the wire fences, and the 

 quantity of grass consumed by them. On a station in the Riverina 



