46 RUDOLF SÖDERBERG, STUDIES OF THE BIRDS IN NORTH WEST AUSTRALIA. 
Fam. Otidide. 
Eupodotis australis J. E. Grav. 
Math. handl. n:r 192. JF ad., 9 ad. Nooncanbah, Fitzroy 7/12, !9/12 1910, moult.; 9 juv. Hot Spring, 
Kimb. !3/3 1911 moult.; nestling Nooncanbah, Fitzroy ?/12 1910. 
Juvenal. — 2. Much more freckled with dusky vermiculations or wavy cross 
lines on the neck, especially on the lower part, and on the sides of face than the 
adults, in this case also tinged with buff. 
Throat whitish. Upper part of the back with a strong rusty-brown shade. 
Lower tail-coverts buff with vermiculations of cross lines. The black feathers of the 
head with greyish white spots near the tip and along the shaft. 
Moulting. — Both the females in moulting. The moulting-season appears 
to be in Febr. 
Breeding-season. — Comes in Nov. and Dec. One nestling was taken ”/12 at 
Nooncanbah. A young female was shot in Dec., remarkably developed, though 
considerably smaller than the adults, scarcely more than half as large. The wings 
well developed. 
Ecological. — The Australian bustard appeared here and there, where the 
locality was suited to it, along the Fitzroy river as well as round Mowla Downs at 
Meda, Derby and Dampier land. It lived on grossy plains and was not very shy 
in those places where it had not been hunted. But it is hunted because of its flesh, 
and may disappear from those places where white men often pass or settle. 
Order Gruiformes. 
Antigone australasiana GouLp. 
Math. handl. n:r 193. SJ ad., 9 ad. Meda, Kimberley 5/s, ?/s5 1911; nestling Nooncanbah !7/; 1910. 
Nestling. — Dull dark-brown above with a greyish buff neck and sandy 
buff upper head. Greyish buff round the lower neck, whitish on the throat, the 
sides of face and the under parts. A line round the wings and the sides of body 
pearl-grey. The bill bright yellow at the base. Tot. 1. 18 cm. 
Ecological. — Native companion was in Kimberley common at all the places 
(except Sunday Island) that were visited by the Expedition. I saw it in flocks at 
»the billabongs» both around Mowla Downs and at Fitzroy river, in Beagle bay and 
other places. At the end of Nov. it was seen at Mowla Downs playing »love-antics»>. 
Breeding in January. Nestling caught the "hh, eggs seen before at Noon- 
canbah. 
