The WATTLE-BIRD (45) hiss'd in Australian groves; And the SHEATH-BILL (46) was seeking for shell-fish he loves.

has the bill vermilion, back and rump ash-brown; belly black; feeds on fruit, which it swallows whole, and, after digesting the bulk, casts up the stones; has a voice resembling the grunting of a swine, or the bellowing of a calf; said to be worshipped by the Indians.

The Hydrocorax, or INDIAN-HORNBILL, inhabiting the Molucca Islands, has the protuberance flattened forwards; it is two feet four inches long; frequently tamed to destroy rats and mice; it feeds on the wild nutmeg, which renders its flesh peculiarly aromatic.

The Undulata, or UNDULATE-HORNBILL, called by the natives of Java, the JEALOUS-HORNBILL, feeds the female during her incubation; and, during his absence in search of food, should be find, on his return, the marks of another bird near the nest, he will, it is said, inclose the female in the nest, and leave her to perish.-HORSFIELD.

(45) ORDER, PICE, (Lath) Wattle-Bird.

The genus CALLOUS, (Lath.) or WATTLE-BIRD, consists of one species only, the Cinerea, or CINEREOUS-Wattle-Bird ; it has an incurvate arched bill, the lower mandible shorter and carunculate beneath at the base; nostrils depressed, half covered with a subcartilaginous membrane; tongue subcartilaginous, split and fringed at the top; feet ambulatory; length fifteen inches; walks on the ground, seldom perches on trees; feeds on berries, insects, and small birds; makes a hissing and murmuring noise; flesh good; inhabits New Zealand and Australasia.

(46) Order, GRALLÆ, (Lath.) SHEATH-BILL.

The genus VAGINALIS, (Lath.) or SHEATH-BILL, consists of one species only, the Alba, or WHITE-SHEATH BILL. It is

The NEW-HOLLAND MENURA (47) in meadow or wood,
Or on Van Diemen mountains, was seeking its food;
And, perchance, even now, undiscovered remain,
On that CONTINENT-ISLE*-Some Australian plain;-
Or where bursts the huge stream from the mountain's
cleft side;

-

Where, through woodlands and meadows its waters

may glide;

Unable to swim, and unable to fly,

Many groups that description at present defy.

distinguished by a short, thick, conic, compressed bill, the upper mandible covered above with a moveable horny sheath; nostrils small, placed before the sheath; tongue above round, beneath flattened, pointed at the tip; face naked, papillous; wings with an obtuse excrescence under the flexure; legs strong; four toed; from fifteen to eighteen inches long; feeds on shellfish and carcasses; inhabits New Zealand and the South Sea Islands.

(47) Order, GALLINÆ, (Lath,) New-Holland Menura.

The genus MENURA, (Luth.) consists of one species only, the Nova Hollandia, NEW-HOLLAND MENURA, or Mountain-Pheasant. It has a stout conico-convex black bill, and oval nostrils; legs long, black, very strong, formed for walking, and covered with large scales; a long tail, consisting of sixteen loose webbed feathers, the two middle ones narrow, and greatly exceeding the others in length; the outer one on each side broader and curved at the end; size of a hen pheasant; the whole length more than three feet and a half; plumage above brown, fore part of the neck rufous, beneath brownish-ash. The female, in colour, resembles the male, but is much smaller. Found in the mountainous districts of New Holland, where it is said to be * NEW HOLLAND, or AUSTRALIA.

S

Yet the CHANNEL-BILL (48) came from a region as far; And that scansor too came, the long-bill'd JACAMAR. (49)

rare; flesh supposed to be good; but we want more information concerning this, most probably valuable, bird.

(48) Order, PICÆ, (Lath.) CHANNEL-BILL.

The genus SCYTHROPS, (Lath.) or CHANNEL-BILL, consists of one species only, the Psittacus, which is found in New South Wales. It has a large, convex, sharp-edged, pale-brown bill, tipt with yellowish and channeled at the sides, point hooked; nostrils naked, rounded at the base; tongue cartilaginous, split at the point; feet scansile; head, neck, and upper parts of the body pale bluish-grey; back, wings, and tail, cinereous; size of a crow, but, from its long tail, its whole length is two feet two inches.

(49) Order, PICÆ, (Lath.) JACAMAR.

Of the genus GALBULA, (Lath.) or JACAMAR, five species have been described; inhabitants of South America. They have a straight, very long, quadrangular bill; tongue short, sharp-pointed; thighs downy on the fore part; feet scansile. They are generally about the size of a lark, and feed on insects; some of them fly in pairs.

(50) ORDER, PASSERES, (Lath.) COLY.

The genus COLIUS, (Lath.) or COLY, consists of eleven species; they have a short thick bill, convex above and flat beneath, upper mandible bent down at the tip ; tail long, wedged; toes three before, one behind, but capable of being occasionally varied so as to have all in front. These birds live universally on fruits, not feeding on grains or insects; they are gregariou even during incubation, their nests being made in society; they do not perch like other birds, or leap from branch to branch; nor do they even walk nimbly; for, resting on the whole length of the leg, they drag the belly after them. They grow very fat, are well flavoured, and much sought after

But nor COLY(5) nor UMBRE (5) would daringly brave
The breeze of the west, and Atlantic's high wave.
Nor could come from the south, with his rudiment wing,
The PINGUIN (52) unwieldy, to honour the king..

as food. They are inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope, Senegal, and India. These birds are called at the Cape, Mouse Birds, from their soft plumage and their frequently creeping about the roots of trees. The Leuconotus, or WHITE-BACKEDCOLY, is twelve inches long; its general plumage bluish-ash; eggs five or six, rose-coloured; inhabits the Cape of Good Hope.

(51) ORDER, GRALLÆ, (Lath.) UMBRE.

The genus SCOPUS, (Lath.) or UMBRE, consists of one species only, the Umbrella, or TUFTED-UMBRE; it has a long, thick, compressed bill, a little hooked; nostrils linear, oblique; feet four-toed, cleft; a thick, tufted, lax crest; body brown; tail obscurely barred; twenty inches long; legs longish ; female not crested; inhabits Africa.

(52) ORDER, PALMIPEDES, (Lath.) PINGUIN.

The genus APTENODYTES, (Lath.) PINGUIN, or Penguin, which consists of fifteen species, is distinguished by a straight bill, wings fin-shaped, without quill feathers; feet fettered, four-toed; tail short, wedged; feathers very rigid; is seen only in the temperate and frigid zones of the southern hemisphere; the same as may be said of the auk in the northern hemisphere: none of either of these genera of birds has been, it is said, observed within the tropics. Notwithstanding there is a great similarity between this genus and the alca, or auk, there is, nevertheless, one peculiarity which decidedly distinguishes the Pinguin from the last-named bird : the Pinguin, while swimming, sinks quite above the breast, the head and neck only appearing, while the auk, in common with other aquatic birds, swims on the surface. It is remarkably dexterous in the water, yet it is a stupid race of birds, and, when on land, easily taken. Some of this tribe lay their eggs in the deserted nest of the Albatross; see note (14). The following deserve notice:

Nor that tiny Hirundinid, he of the east,

Of his tribe the most singular, while, too, the least; Not, like martins or swallows, with clay or with loam, Such vulgar materials! constructs he his dome: Within walls of pure gelatine, little beside,

The ESCULENT-SWALLOW* delights to reside;

The Demersa, or CAPE-PINGUIN, is twenty-one inches long; plumage above black, of the head and throat dirty grey; breast, belly, and tail, white; the two short appendages in place of wings black above, white on the lower edge, white varied with black beneath. Swims and dives well, but hops and flutters in a strange awkward manner on land, and, if hurried, stumbles perpetually; will frequently run for some distance like a quadruped, making use of the finny wings instead of legs, crying out like a goose, but in a much hoarser voice. Said to clamber some way up the rocks to make a nest, in doing which it assists with the bill. Eggs two, white, size of a duck, very good; these birds are sometimes kept tame, but do not survive the confinement many months. Inhabits the Cape of Good Hope.

The Magellanica, or MAGELLANIC-PINGUIN, is two feet or more long, and weighs eleven pounds; voice not unlike the braying of an ass; flesh not unpalatable, but of a musky flavour. Eggs size of a goose, and laid in pairs, are good; they are deposited in places where many of the tribe associate. Inhabits Falkland Islands.

The Chrysocome, CRESTED-PINGUIN, or HOPPING-PINGUIN, is a beautiful bird, twenty-three inches long, inhabiting the Falkland Islands, the Isle of Desolation, New Holland, &c. Called Hopping from its habit of leaping quite out of the water on meeting with the least resistance.

For an account of this bird, see page 158; for its nest, see the Introduction, page 23,

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