PLATE 



LI V. 



GENUS PEDIONOMOUS (Gould.) 



ONLY one species of this interesting form has been as yet identified. It differs from the Ttirnices- 

 in having- a small hind-tot . 



PEDIONOMOUS TORQUATUS (Gould). 



COLLARED PLAIN-WANDERER. Genus: Pedionomous. 



THIS variety is specially adapted for habitation of the vast dry areas of inland Australia; it is 

 very likely that further research will prove the existence of other species of the form. The 

 Collared Plain-Wanderer may be likened to a tiny Bustard, possessing, as it does, long agile legs and 

 short round wings, which make its flight laboured and slow. Like the Bustard,, too, it hides in scanty 

 patches of herbage, only flying when the disturber is almost upon it. In this variety, as with the 

 Tumices, the strange feature is again noticeable of the male being much smaller and less gaudily 

 coloured than the female. 



Observations of these birds in confinement, made by Sir George Grey, show many interesting' 

 points in their behaviour. They soon grew quite tame, eating boiled rice and other artificial food readily, 

 but preferring flies. Like the Emu, they would frequently stand on the extremities of their toes, and 

 perfectly erect, on the look out for danger. Their call, too, resembled in a tiny way the grunt of 

 the Emu, without its whistling noise. As they never fly, if they can avoid doing so, they are 

 often caught by dogs. Sir George Grey also states that they are migratory, appearing at Adelaide 

 in June, and leaving in January, but where they removed to he could not ascertain. 



The egg narrows sharply at the smaller end, having small brown blotches and faint vinous-grey 

 markings ; the blotches arc more frequent at the larger end. Size of the egg, 1|- inch by | inch. 



In colour, tin's variety is chiefly distinguished by the collar of white round the neck of the 

 female, with its black, crescent-shaped markings ; the crown of the head and upper-surfaces are brown, 

 the feathers having a broad margin of buff, with alternate black and brown markings ; the chest and 

 flanks are fawn coloured, with circular markings of brown ; the abdomen is of a lighter shade ; the 

 bill and irides are yellow ; the feet a greenish-yellow. 



The colour of the male is, throughout, more dull, and the white collar is absent, being 

 replaced by a fawn colour, with brown markings. 



Size of female : Length, 7 inches ; bill, f inch : wing, 3| inches ; tarsi, £ inch. 



Size of male : Length, 4, ! , inches ; bill, 11 16 inch ; wing, 3| inches ; tarsi, | inch. 



Habitat : Most of the plain-country of Central Australia. 



