it for
some time for the note of a large bird on the plains, and sent a man more
than once with a gun to shoot it, without success. At last, as Mr. Hume
and I were one day sitting under a tree on the Bogan creek, between the
Macquarie and the Darling, we heard the note, and I sent my man Fraser to
try once more if he could discover what bird it was, when on looking up
into the tree under which we were sitting we saw one of these little
doves, and ascertained from the movement of its throat that the sound
proceeded from it, although it still fell on our ears as if it had been
some large bird upon the plain. I have therefore taken upon me to call it
the "Ventriloquist."

103. PEDIONOMUS TORQUATUS, GOULD.--The plain Wanderer.

This singular bird, in plumage and habit so like the Quail, was first
discovered on the plains of Adelaide by Mr. Gould, where it appeared in
considerable numbers in the year 1839-40. It was afterwards procured by a
persevering collector in that colony, Mr. Strange, who is now in Sydney.
Although in many respects resembling a Quail, this bird has long legs
like a Bustard, but has a hind toe which that bird has not. We fell in
with several in the N.W. interior, but they were all solitary birds. How
far therefore we might conclude that they migrate northwards may be
doubtful, although, it is impossible to suppose they would proceed in any
other direction. The Pedionomus is a stupid little bird, and is more
frequently caught by the dog than shot. Its general colour is a light
brown, speckled with black like a quail. Its neck is white, spotted
thickly with black, and has a white iris.

104. HEMIPODIUS VARIUS.--Varied Quail.

This bird is the prettiest of its tribe, and is very common in many of
the located parts of south-eastern Australia, but is not a bird of the
interior, and was not observed beyond the flats of the Darling, where it
was occasionally flushed from amongst the long grass.

105. COTURNIX PECTORALIS.--Quail.

This bird is very common on the better description of plains in South
Australia, and two or three specimens were shot during the early progress
of the Expedition, but it was not seen to the north of Stanley's Range.
It is to be observed, indeed, that few quails of any kind were seen in
the interior. This variety is a very pretty bird, with bright brown
plumage, mottled like that of the ordinary quail, and is characterized by
a black spot on the breast.

106. SYNOICUS AUSTRALI