small copse, out of which it was with much difficulty hunted, when it darted through an open door into the 

 kitchen and concealed itself behind a box. 



" The males are very pugnacious, and in their manner of fighting remind me of the game-cock, depress- 

 ing and elevating the head, imitating each other's actions, &c. &c. 



" Of its nidification nothing is known. 



" Native name, Aban-cuccula. Cucculo is the general. name for all fowls, male birds; cuccula is female; 

 and kikili is plural." 



The male has the feathers of the head black, with a fine line of white down the centre of each, becoming 

 almost obsolete on the centre of the crown ; feathers of the back of the neck black, with a line of white 

 down the centre of each, commencing in a fine point at the base of the feather, gradually but slightly 

 increasing in breadth towards and ending near the apex ; feathers of the shoulders and scapularies deep 

 chestnut, freckled with black, and having a broad oblong mark of black down the centre, within which is a 

 lengthened white line as on the neck ; lower part of the back deep chestnut, minutely freckled with black 

 at the tip of each feather; lesser wing-coverts black, bordered with chestnut at the base and a small drop- 

 like spot of buffy white near the tip ; primaries brown ; remainder of the wing deep chestnut, freckled with 

 black, and at the tips of the greater coverts a pear-shaped mark of black, within which is a similar mark of 

 white ; upper and under tail-coverts black ; tail rich purplish black ; feathers of the throat, breast and 

 abdomen black, with a pear-shaped mark of white near the tip, which mark becomes more elongated as the 

 feathers proceed downwards, until on the flanks they assume a similar but bolder form than the lines on the 

 back of the neck; on the lower part of the abdomen and thighs they again become of a more rounded 

 form, but are much less conspicuous ; bill and orbits beautiful red ; irides dark brown ; legs and feet red. 



The female has the entire plumage deep chestnut, paler on the under surface and minutely freckled with 

 brown, especially on the secondaries and upper tail-coverts; tail purplish black; bill, orbits, eyes, legs and 

 feet as in the male, but not quite so rich in colour. 



The figures in the accompanying Plate are of the natural size. 



