OCR Text |
Show 1876.] NORTH-EASTERN QUEENSLAND. 119 heavy; and they do not readily take wing, unless pursued by a"when they rise with a considerable flapping to the most convenient branch, where they are easily approached and shot. Their flesh is dark, rank, and tough. The young, about 5 inches in length, are of a dull brown, ashy brown on the sides of the face, neck, and mantle, and on the abdomen of a lighter ashy brown, rufous brown on the flanks, and brown washed with rufous on the breast; the back, rump, and tail of a rich rufous brown ; primaries dark brown ; interscapular region and upper wing-coverts dark brown, tipped with light rufous; the secondaries and scapulars freckled, and margined on the outer web with light rufous ; the outer series of secondary-coverts and outer scapulars barred and freckled with the same colour; iris dark brown; feet yellow. Total length 5*5 inches, bill *45, wing 4*5, tarsus 1 inch, tail a tuft of down about I inch in length. 191. TURNIX VARIUS. 192. TURNIX PYRRHOTHORAX. 193. TURNIX VELOX. I met with these three species occasionally. They were looked upon as scarce birds in the Herbert-river district. T. varius prefers the more open forest land; the other two I found on the margins of the open grass-flats, and in the vicinity of water-holes and lagoons &c. 194. SYNOICUS AUSTRALIS. 195. EXCALFACTORIA AUSTRALIS. I found both species plentiful in the swampy parts of the grass-beds, and on grassy ridges generally throughout the district, and obtained young a few days old of S. australis in March. 196. DROMAIUS NOV^E-HOLLANDLE. Emus were not plentiful, and so hunted that they are only found now in the unfrequented parts of the district. I met their tracks only on one occasion on the inland side of the range, in the basin drained by the Herbert river. 197. CASUARIUS AUSTRALIS. One of the chief objects of my visit to Rockingham Bay was to become acquainted with the habits of this noble bird. In 1867 I had sent my collector, Edward Spalding, to this district for this purpose, but with very poor results. While in Brisbane on my way up I purchased by telegram a fine young living specimen, the first that had been obtained and reared, and ultimately succeeded in bringing it alive to Sydney and shipping it to the Society, where I am glad to hear it arrived safely*. I found also that several very young Cassowaries had been obtained, and, for the first time, a nest and eggs had been found. This was great news; and I need not relate how I made * See P. Z. S. 1875, p. 469.-ED. |