5 
birds was to make a tunnel right through the mound, so that the 
young might make their exit at either side. The mound is frequently 
resorted to by the young birds, and Mr. Binstead, assisted by some 
sawyers, some time ago, watched their opportunity and captured four 
after they had entered the mound. Mr. Binstead took them home and 
reared them without difficulty. They were hardy, and fed about like 
common chickens, but were unfortunately burnt some time afterwards 
in a bush fire. A s there is no truly gallinaceous bird indigenous 
to Australia, I think we may with propriety suppose that the 
Megapodes and perhaps Menura are their proper representatives, and 
very probably, as with many other members of the Australian Fauna, 
will prove to be of a very ancient type, as their mode of incubation, 
like that of the gestation of the Marsupialia, is so unlike the habits 
and customs of animals in modern times. If the great difference of 
appearance between the Tallegalla and its congeners, and the Menura, 
is urged, particularly as regards the tail, let it be well remembered 
that the GMlinacese are of all birds the most diversified. Some have 
short and some, like the peacock, very long tails, but all are scratchers. 
Many most interesting examples might be adduced which will occur to 
thoughtful minds. 
My next duty is a pleasing one, and shows that we have by no 
means exhausted our list of Australian birds. I have now the pleasure 
of exhibiting some drawings I have only lately completed of two new 
bitterns and two new kingfishers. The former you will perceive are 
on a reduced scale, and the latter the size of life. I can say very 
little about them, my remarks being almost entirely descriptive. The 
first I have called Ardetta Nigra, or the black bittern. The head, neck, 
back, upper portion of the wings, and the tail are greyish black, 
primaries and secondaries grey, lightest on the outer webs ; under 
surface dark blackish grey, tinged with brown ; legs and feet black ; 
bill black, with a streak of yellowish horn color on the under mandible ; 
eyes yellow, cere greenish yellow. 
Length 21 ^ inches ; wing 8^, tail 3, tarsus 2j, bill 3f . This 
specimen was shot in a swampy region full of reeds and aquatic vege- 
tation, between the Jardine and Kennedy rivers, about thirty miles 
from Cape York. It was brought to Mr. Cockerell from thence by 
the blacks, whom he found of great use and assistance in making his 
valuable collection ; and here I would again thank him for the oppor- 
tunity he has offered me of describing and figuring this and the three 
following birds : — 
The next is a beautiful bittern— perhaps the most beautiful among 
the Australian species — and it is with great pleasure that I dedicate it 
(supposing it to be new to science) to Mr. J. T. Cockerell, under the 
name of Ardetta Cockerelli or Cockerell’s bittern. The description is 
as follows : — 
Forehead and crown black ; chin, throat, abdomen, under surface 
and edge of shoulder, and lower part of the back, delicate, light buff. 
The remainder of the visible plumage, including the tail, closely and 
