Part 46

In its general appearance and the style of its markings it much resembles the Hemipodius varius, but on comparison will be found to be but little more than half the size of that species; independently of which, the colouring is much lighter, more varied and sparkling, the white margins of the back-feathers more numerous and conspicuous, and the markings of the throat and breast of a crescentic instead of an elongated form.

Nothing whatever is known of its habits and economy, but they doubtless closely resemble those of the other species of the genus.

The whole of the upper surface is light chestnut-red, each feather crossed by broad bars of brownish black and margined with grey, within which are two narrow lines of black and white; wing-coverts and tertiaries light chestnut-red, crossed by irregular zigzag bars of black, the interspaces of the outer margins greyish white; chin and sides of the face white, with a narrow crescent-shaped mark of brown at the tip of each feather; sides of the chest chestnut, each feather tipped with white, within which is an indistinct mark of deep black; chest and under surface pale buffy white, the feathers of the chest with a row of dark grey spots on each margin, giving that part a speckled appearance; primaries brown, narrowly edged with white; irides reddish yellow; bill greenish grey, darkest on the culmen and becoming ashy grey beneath; legs and feet orange-yellow.

The figures are of the natural size.

HEMIPODIUS MELANOTUS: Gould.

J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

HEMIPODIUS MELANOTUS, Gould. Black-backed Hemipode.

Hemipodius 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 bill and the eye, stripe over the eye and cheeks, light yellowish brown, the feathers of the latter slightly tipped with black; back 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 buffy white; bill and feet brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

HEMIPODIUS CASTANOTUS: Gould.

J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

HEMIPODIUS CASTANOTUS, Gould. Chestnut-backed Hemipode.

Hemipodius castanotus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 145.

Wȉn-do-loom, Aborigines of Port Essington.

Thick-billed Quail, Colonists.

The Chestnut-backed Hemipode inhabits the northern and north-western portions of Australia; specimens from the latter have been forwarded to me by Mr. Bynoe and by Mr. Dring of H.M.S. Beagle; Mr. Gilbert also found it at Port Essington, and his notes respecting it I here transcribe:—

“This is a tolerably abundant species, and inhabits the sides of stony hills in coveys of from fifteen to thirty in number; which, when disturbed, seldom rise together, but run along the ground, and it is only upon being very closely pursued that they will take wing, and then they merely fly to a short distance: while running on the ground their heads are thrown up as high as their necks will permit, and their bodies being carried very erect, a waddling motion is given to their gait, which is very ludicrous. The stomachs of those dissected were very muscular, and contained seeds and a large proportion of pebbles.”

Head, neck and chest olive-grey, the feathers of the head and neck spotted with fawn-white at the tip, and those of the chest having a spatulate mark of the same colour down the centre; centre of the abdomen and the under tail-coverts pale buff; a narrow stripe over each eye, back, shoulders and tail rich chestnut; the feathers on the back and shoulders spotted with white, the white spots bounded anteriorly with black; primaries brown, edged with buff; irides gamboge-yellow; bill light ash-grey; naked skin round the eye smoke-grey; tarsi and feet king’s-yellow.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.

HEMIPODIUS PYRRHOTHORAX: Gould.

J. & E. Gould del. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

HEMIPODIUS PYRRHOTHORAX, Gould. Red-chested Hemipode.