THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
paler chestnut and the dark bars less defined. “ Bill black ; iris white ; feet 
red ” (E. Olive). Total length, 393 mm. ; culmen, 23 ; wing, 173 ; tail, 180 ; 
tarsus, 22. 
Immature male. Differs from the adult male in having the crown of the head bright chestnut ; 
the feathers of the wings margined with bright rufous -chestnut ; hind-neck, mantle, 
fore-neck and chest narrowly barred with rufous and black, more broadly on the 
breast ; a buff streak below the eye ; “ Bill very dark slate-colour ; iris chestnut ; 
tarsus and feet dark magenta ” (Schrader). Wing, 184 mm. 
Immature female. Similar to the immature male described above. “ Bill black ; iris white ; 
feet red ” (E. Olive). Wing, 182 mm. 
Nest. “ A very primitive structure being simply a few sticks placed crosswise, without 
any cavity, and barely sufficient to retain the egg in position ” (North). 
Egg. Clutch, one. “ A true ellipse in form, pure white, the texture of the shell being fine 
and shghtly glossy ; length, 1.35 by 0.97 inch ” (North). 
Breeding season. October to December (Ramsay), February (Meston). 
Gould* says : “ It is a fine showy bird in a state of nature, and exhibits itself 
to great advantage when it rises from the ground to the trees. \¥hile traversing 
the brushes I frequently saw this bird busily engaged searching on the ground 
for fallen seeds and berries. Rarety were more than four or five seen at one time, 
and most frequently it occurred singly or in pairs. ... it spends much of its 
time on the ground ; and when flushed in the depths of the forest it merely 
flies to the branch of some low tree, and there remains with little appearance 
of fear. It spreads out its broad tail at the moment of alighting. Its note 
is loud, mournful and monotonous.” 
The bird figured is a male from Cairns, collected in December, 1889. 
* Handb. B. Auatr., II., p. 148. 
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