The COLLARED PLAIN-WANDERER (_Pedionomus torquatus_) has the foot
furnished with four toes. The beak, which almost equals the head in
length, is straight and compressed at its tip; the wings are short and
shell-shaped, with the first, second, and third quills of equal size; the
tail is short, the tarsus long, and the hinder toe placed high. In this
species the top of the head is reddish brown, spotted with black; the brow
and sides of the neck are light fawn-colour, dotted with black; the broad
white band on the throat also shows black spots; the mantle-feathers are
reddish brown, striped with black, and edged with reddish yellow; the
middle breast is red, the rest of the under side fawn-colour, each of the
feathers being marked like those on the back, whilst those at the sides
exhibit broad irregular black spots; the tail-feathers are striped with
blackish brown. The eye is straw-colour, the beak yellow, with black tip,
and the foot greenish yellow. The male is four inches and a half long, and
his wing three inches and a quarter, whilst his mate, who also surpasses
him in the beauty of her markings, is not less than seven inches long; her
wing measures three inches and a half, and the tail of both sexes one inch
and a quarter.
"The structure of this singular little bird," says Gould, "is
peculiarly well adapted for inhabiting the arid and extensive plains
that characterise the eastern portion of Australia. The lengthened and
courser-like legs of the Collared Plain-Wanderer are admirably suited for
running, while its short, round wings are as little fitted for extensive
flight. Its general contour suggests the idea of a diminutive Bustard. On
its native plains this bird has many singular habits, particularly that
of secreting itself among the scanty herbage, or of remaining quiet on
the bare ground until it is nearly trodden upon before it will rise, and
when it does take wing its flight is more contracted than that of any
other bird with which I am acquainted." Sir George Grey states that these
birds are migratory; appearing at Adelaide in June, and disappearing about
January. While running about they are in the habit of raising themselves
in a nearly perpendicular position on the extremities of their toes, so
that the hinder part of the foot does not touch the ground, and of taking
a wide survey around them.
"While in confinement," says the same observer, "these birds eat pounded
wheat, raw boiled rice, bread, and flies; the latter appear to be their
favourite food. They soon become perfectly tame. The three in our
possession we have had for upwards of four months. The call of those we
have in confinement precisely resembles that of the Emu--not the whistle,
but the hollow-sounding noise, like that produced by tapping on a cask,
which the Emu utters--but is, of course, much fainter."
Gould received from Mr. Strange a fully-developed egg, taken from the
ovarium of the female, which in general character resembled those of
the _Turnices_. It was somewhat suddenly contracted at the smaller end.
The ground-colour was stone-white, sprinkled with small blotches of
umber-brown and vinous grey, the latter tint appearing as if beneath the
surface of the shell, the sprinkled markings predominating at the larger
end. The egg was one inch and one-eighth long, and seven-eighths of an
inch broad.
[Illustration: THE AFRICAN BUSH QUAIL (_Turnix Africanus_, or _T.
Gibraltariensis_).]
* * * * *
The _Phasianidæ_ of Brehm comprise not merely the PHEASANTS PROPER,
but all nearly allied groups. The members of this important division
generally possess a comparatively slender body, medium-sized or short and
much rounded wings, and a long or broad tail, composed of from twelve to
eighteen feathers. The moderately long bill is much vaulted, with its
upper mandible curved over the lower part of the beak, and occasionally
prolonged into a sharp, nail-like tip; the rather high foot is furnished
with long toes, and in the male is armed with a spur; the partially bare
head is sometimes adorned with combs and lappets of skin, and sometimes
with horn-like appendages or tufts of feathers. The plumage is glossy
and brilliantly coloured. This family is almost entirely confined to the
Eastern Hemisphere, only two species being found in America; and even in
the Old World their distribution is nearly completely restricted to the
warmer part of the Asiatic continent and its dependent islands.
* * * * *
The TUFTED PHEASANTS (_Lophophori_) constitute a group distinguishable by
their short, rounded tail, the feathers of which are not placed as in most
other Pheasants, but present a fan-like arrangement.
[Illustration: THE MONAUL, OR IMPEYAN PHEASANT (_Lophophorus resplendens_,
_refulgens_, or _Impeyanus_).]