markings are confined to the larger end, where they form a zone ; in others they are equally spread all over
the surface, intermingled with the black markings; also blotches o f grey appear as if beneath the surface of
the shell, and some eggs have been found with the ground-colour of the larger end o f a beautiful bluish
green.
In its nidification and in many of its actions it offers considerable resemblance to the members o f the
genus Cotturicincla.
It has a thick muscular gizzard, and its food consists^ of seeds, grain, coleóptera, and the larvae of all
kinds o f insects. In Western Australia it often resorts to newly ploughed land, as it there finds an abundance
of grubs and caterpillars, its most favourite food.
The sexes present considerable difference in colour.
The male has the face white; feathers on the forepart of the head, along the centre of the crest, line
from the eye bounding the white o f the face, and a large gorget-shaped mark on the breast deep black;
sides of the head and crest grey; all the upper surface and flanks light brown ; wings brown margined with
lighter brown; tail dark brown; centre of the abdomen brownish white; vent and under tail-coverts buff;
irides beautiful orange, surrounded by a narrow black lash ; bill black; legs and feet blackish brown.
The female resembles the male, but differs in having the face and forehead grey, only a line o f black
down the centre of the crest, the chin dull white, in having a mere indication of the black gorget, the irides
hazel, and the feet olive- or dark brown.
The figures are of the natural size.