106.  Synoicus australis.—­Swamp Quail, or Partridge.

Synoicus Australis is a smaller bird than those just described, but the colour of the plumage is much the same.  It is generally found in marshes, or marshy ground, and frequently in bevies.

107.  Synoicus CHINENSIS.

This beautiful little quail is generally found in marshes, or in high rushy ground.  It is not a common bird.  In size this quail is not larger than a young guinea fowl that has just broken the shell.  It has dark plumage on the back and head—­a deep purple breast and belly, and a white horse-shoe on the upper part of the neck.  The female has general dark plumage, speckled black.

108.  DROMAIUS novae-Hollandiae.—­The Emu.

This noble bird ranges over the whole of the continent, although we did not see any to the north of the Stony Desert.  A good many were killed by the dogs at Fort Grey.  They travel many miles during a single night to water, as was proved by a pack of thirteen coming down to the Depot Creek to drink, that we had seen the evening before more than 12 miles to the north.  Those we saw in the distant interior did not differ from the common emu.

109.  Otis AUSTRALASIANUS.—­The Bustard.

This fine and erectly walking bird is also common over the whole of the interior, migrating from the north in September and October.  Several flights of these birds were seen by us thus migrating southwards in August, passing over our heads at a considerable elevation, as if they intended to be long on the wing.  I have known this Otis weigh 28lbs.  Its flesh is dark and varied in shade.  The flavour is game and the meat is tender.

110.  LOBIVANELLUS LOBATUS.—­The wattled Peewit.

This bird is most abundant over all south-east Australia, on plains, marshes, and rivers, its cry and flight are very like that of our Peewit at home, and it adopts the same stratagem to draw the fowler from its young.  It is a pretty bird, with bright yellow eye and a singular wattle coming from the bill along the cheek.  It is also remarkable for a spur on the shoulder which it uses with much force in fighting with any crow or hawk.

111.  EDICNEMUS GRALLARIUS.—­The southern stone Plover.

There are few parts in the located districts of Australia in which this bird is not to be found.  Its peculiar and melancholy cry, ran through the silence of the desert itself, and wherever rocks occurred near water they were also seen but not in any number.  We caught a fine young bird at Flood’s Creek, but as it was impossible to keep it, we let it go.  This bird very much resembles the stone Plover of England, but there are some slight differences of plumage.

112.  SARCIOPHORUS pectoralis.—­Black-breasted Dottrel.

This bird is remarkable for a small red wattle protruding from the bill, with a grey back and wings.  It takes its name from its black breast.