HEMIPODIUS MELANOTUS, Gould. 
Black-backed Hemipode. 
Hemipodms melanotus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 8 ; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part II. 
Turnix melanotus, Gould in Gray’s Trav. App., vol. ii. p. 419, note. 
Several years have now elapsed since I described this species from a specimen received from Moreton 
Bay ; since then I have obtained other examples from the eastern and northern parts of Australia. It was 
procured in the latter locality by Mr. Bynoe, and to that gentleman I am indebted for the two fine specimens 
figured in the accompanying Plate. 
In structure, and particularly in the feeble form of its bill, the Hemipodius melanotus bears a close alliance 
to the Hemipodius varius ; and these slender-billed species form a small section which might with propriety 
be separated from the stout-billed birds, such as H. velox and H. castaneothorax. 
The female of this species is a larger bird than the male, in which respect only do the sexes differ in 
outward appearance. 
The total want of information respecting the habits and economy of this bird compels me to conclude my 
account of it with the following description of its colouring only : — 
Crown of the head black, each feather fringed with brown at the tip ; space between the hill and the eye, 
stripe over the eye and cheeks, light yellowish brown, the feathers of the latter slightly tipped with black ; 
hack 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 oblong spot of black transversely disposed in the centre of each 
feather ; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts huffy white ; bill and feet brown. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
