TALEGALLA LATHAMI. 
Wattled Taleg’alla. 
New Holland Vulture, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. i. p. 32. 
Genus Alectura, Ibid., vol. x. p. 455. 
Alectura Lathami, Gray, Zool. Misc., No. I. p. 3. — Jard. and Selby, 111. Orn., vol. iii. pi. cxl. 
New Holland Vulture, Swains. Class, of Birds, vol. i. p. 383. 
Catlieturus Australis, Ibid., vol. ii. p. 206. 
Meleagris Lindesayii, Jameson, Mem, Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. vii. p. 473. 
Brush Turkey of the Colonists ; Wee-lah, Aboi’igines of the Namoi. 
It has often been asserted that Australia abounds in anomalies, and in no instance Is the truth of this pro- 
position more fully exemplified than in the history of the very singular bird here represented, respecting the 
situation of which, in the natural system, much diversity of opinion has hitherto prevailed. It was conse- 
quently one of the birds which demanded my utmost attention during my late expedition, and I trust 
that the following details will assist in clearing up this long-disputed point. 
The bird in question was originally described and figured by the late Dr. Latham in the first volume of 
his “ General History of Birds,” under the name of New Holland Vulture ; but subsequently he conceived 
himself in error in classing it with the Vulturidce , and at the end of the tenth volume of the same work placed 
it among the GalTmaeecs, with the generic appellation of Alectura : the species was afterwards dedicated 
to this venerable ornithologist by Mr. John Edward Gray, in his “ Zoological Miscellany.” 
The generic and specific terms, Catlieturus Australis, were subsequently applied to it by Mr. Swainson, who 
in both volumes of his “ Classification of Birds ” replaces it among the Vulturidoe, in order, apparently, to 
establish his own views respecting this family, of which he considers it the rasorial type, and details at some 
length why he entertains this opinion. 
“The New Holland Vulture,” says Mr. Swainson, “ is so like a rasorial bird, that some authors have hesitated (not having seen 
a specimen) as to what order it really belonged. So completely, indeed, has nature disguised this rare and extraordinary vulture 
in the semblance of that type which it is to represent in its own family, that it has even been classed by one writer with the Menura ; 
and it must be confessed, that if clear conceptions of the difference between analogy and affinity are not entertained, such a classi- 
fication has some plausible reasons to recommend it. The feet, in fact, of the two birds are formed nearly on the same principle, 
but then so are those of Orthonyx, a little scansorial bird not much bigger than a Robin. All three genera, in short, are remarkable 
for their large disproportionate feet, long and slightly curved claws, and the equality of length, or nearly so, of the outer and the 
middle toe. Nor is this the only peculiarity of the New Holland Vulture ; for, unlike all others of its family, it possesses eighteen 
feathers in its tail. An examination of the bill, which is decidedly raptorial, joined with many other considerations, shows that 
all these are but analogical relations to the Rasores, while the real affinities of the bird are in the circle of the VuUuridw, of which 
it forms the rasorial type. A perfect specimen of this very rare vulture, now before us,” continues this author, “ enables us to 
speak of its structure from personal examination.” 
The term Alectura having been previously employed for a group of Flyeatchers, and the present bird 
possessing all the characters of M. Lesson’s genus Talegalla, which was published prior to Mr. Swainson’s 
Catlieturus, I feel that I ought to adopt that appellation. 
How far its range may extend over Australia is not yet satisfactorily ascertained ; it is known to inhabit 
various parts of New South Wales, from Cape Howe on the south to Moreton Bay on the north ; but the 
assaults of the cedar-cutters and others who so frequently hunt through the brushes of Illawarra and Mait- 
land, having nearly extirpated it from those localities, it is now most plentiful in the dense and little- 
trodden brushes of the Manning and Clarence. I was at first led to believe that the country between the 
mountain-ranges and the coast constituted its sole habitat ; but I was agreeably surprised to find it also an 
inhabitant of the scrubby gullies and sides of the lower hills that branch off from the great range into the 
interior. I procured specimens on the Bi'ezi range to the north of Liverpool Plains, and ascertained that it 
was abundant in all the hills on either side of the Namoi. 
It is a gregarious bird, generally moving about in small companies, much after the manner of the Galli- 
nacece, and, like some species of that tribe, is very shy and distrustful. When disturbed it readily eludes 
pursuit by the facility with which it runs through the tangled brush. If hard pressed, or when rushed upon 
by its great enemy the native dog, the whole company spring upon the lowermost bough of some neigh- 
bouring tree, and by a succession of leaps from branch to branch ascend to the top, and either perch there 
or fly off to another part of the brush. They are also in the habit of resorting to the branches of trees as a 
shelter from the mid-day sun, a peculiarity that greatly tends to their destruction, as the sportsman is not 
only enabled to take a certain aim, but, like the Ruffed Grouse of America, they will even allow a suc- 
cession of shots to be fired until they are all brought down. Unless some measures be adopted for their 
preservation, this circumstance must lead to an early extinction of the race ; an event much to be regretted, 
since, independently of its being an interesting bii’d for the aviary, its flesh is extremely delicate, tender, 
and juicy. 
The most remarkable circumstances connected with the economy of this bird, are the facts of its not 
hatching its eggs by incubation ; the means resorted to for effecting this object, although in some degree 
assimilating to the practice of the Ostrich, is yet upon a totally different principle. The Wattled Tale- 
galla collects together an immense heap of decaying vegetable matter as a depositary for the eggs, and 
trusts to the heat engendered l)y the process of decomposition for the development of the young. The 
heap employed for this purpose is collected by the birds during several weeks previous to the period of laying ; 
