HEMIPODIUS MELANOTUS, Gould. 



Hem. capite nigro, plumis apicibus brunneis ; loro, lined supra-oculari, buccisque, pallide flavo-brun- 

 neis; plumis buccarum apicibus extremis nigris ; nucha late castaneo-rufd, plumis singulis fascia 

 lata nigra centrali linedque cervind ad latera externa; dor so superiore uropygio et tectricibus cauda 

 superioribus nigris, singulis plumis brunneo minute variegatis, nec non maculis obscure fulvis 

 caudai tectricibus externe, et alarum tectricibus majoribus minoribusque stramineis, harum plumis 

 singulis macula nigra centrali ; rectricibus brunneis ; guld albescenti ; collo antice pectoreque 

 saturate stramineis ; lateribus colli et corporis pallide stramineis, vittd oblongd transversa nigra 

 centrali; abdomine tectricibusque inferioribus caudai jlavo-albidis ; rostro pedibusque fuscis. 



Long. tot. 6\ unc. ; rostri, J- ; alai, 3£ ; cauda, j ; tarsi, f . 



Crown of the head black, each feather fringed with brown at the tip ; space between the bill and 

 the eye, stripe over the eye, and cheeks, light yellowish brown, the feathers of the latter slightly 

 tipped with black ; back of the neck rich chestnut red ; scapularies deep chestnut red, with a large 

 transverse black mark in the centre of each feather, and a longitudinal stripe of fawn yellow on their 

 outer edges ; rump and upper tail-coverts black, each feather freckled with fine markings of brown 

 with indistinct spots of buff' on the external edges of the upper tail-coverts ; greater and lesser wing- 

 coverts buff yellow, each feather having a spot of black in the centre ; primaries brown ; throat 

 whitish ; front of the neck and chest deep buff; sides of the neck and flanks light buff, with an ob- 

 long spot of black transversely disposed in the centre of each feather ; centre of the abdomen and 

 under tail-coverts buffy white ; bill and feet brown. 



Hemipodius melanotus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, Part V., 1837. 



Remark. On comparing this bird with Hemipodius maculosus I find it less in all its admeasure- 

 ments, and although a nearly allied species, it is in my opinion quite distinct : Hem. maculosus 

 moreover is a native of India, and not of New South Wales. 



In the Collection of King's College, London. 



Habitat. Australia : locality, Van Diemen's Land. 



