WESTERN BUSTARD. 
Eggs. Clutch, one to two ; ground-colour reddish-brown with blotches of darker brown 
aU over ; axis 75 mm. by 55 ; eggs from West Australia are smaller, darker, and more 
heavily blotched than those from the eastern side of the continent. 
Breeding-season. May to October (Carter) ; November (Eeartland). 
Mr. J. P. Rogers, writing from North-west Australia, says he saw these 
birds at Marngle Creek, but they were too wild to shoot. On the Fitzroy 
River and near Derby they were also seen. When numerous they are quite 
tame, but if scarce they are usually very wild. 
Mr. Tom Carter sends me the following : “ The native name of this bird 
is ‘Padderra.’ It is numerous throughout the Mid-west of this state, where 
they may be seen after good rains , feeding upon grasshoppers, etc., over the 
open grassy and scrubby plains, as far as the eye can reach, dotted about in 
pairs or small parties of four to six. They come on the coast country at least 
as far south as within twelve miles of Perth, and at Point Cloates I have on 
several occasions seen them actually on the beach, but whether for the sake 
of food, water or coolness, I cannot say. As a rule they are wary birds and 
difficult to approach except by means of a buggy, or other vehicle ; or by 
riding or leading a horse. Odd birds have been seen in this locality (Broome 
Hill) but this year, 1911, they are fairly common, and I have seen several 
in my paddocks, and heard of others being shot in the neighbourhood. 
Probably the opening out of this country by increased clearing and cultivation 
of land has caused them to come in greater numbers, as they do not like to 
feed in timber or thick country, probably because they cannot see the 
approach of any danger so readily. The breeding season in the Mid-west 
is mainly from the end of May until the beginning of October, but I think, 
that like many birds there, they will lay after any heavj?' rains, irrespective 
of season, as there is then an assured food supply for many weeks. The 
full clutch is two eggs, but occasionally one only is found. On the 4th June, 
1900, I found one egg at Point Cloates, and on 8th June, 1900, saw young 
birds that could fly well. (There had been heavy rains from March that year.) 
9th July, 1900, saw young birds about a quarter grown. 1st August, 1898, 
two eggs. 5th August, 1901, two eggs, also on 28th August. 2nd October, 
1887, saw a nest containing one egg while driving sheep on the Murchison 
River. My attention was attracted by seeing a large ‘ Turkey ’ with 
widely-expanded wings, confronting the sheep, and with croaking noises 
trying to keep them from the vicinity of the eggs, and in after years I saw 
other similar instances of boldness in the protection of eggs. There is 
hardly any nesting material, the eggs being laid on open grass or spinifex 
country practically on the bare ground. On one occasion at Point Cloates, 
1 was driving down a long sloping hill covered with spinifex {Triodea) at a 
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