Grassy meads, the sides of rushy creeks, and districts clothed with dense herbage, are the favourite resorts of these birds, which move about in small coveys, and when flushed fly but a short distance before they again alight. As an article of food they are all that can be wished.
Every part of the country, from Port Essington on the north to Van Diemen’s Land on the south, is inhabited by one or other species of the genus, which are, I doubt not, more numerous than I have represented, for I feel confident that the bird found at Port Essington is quite distinct from those of the south coast.
| 453. Synoïcus Australis | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 89. |
| 454. Synoïcus Diemenensis, Gould | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 90. |
| 455. Synoïcus sordidus, Gould | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 91. |
| 456. Synoïcus? Chinensis | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 92. |
Order GRALLATORES, Ill.
Family STRUTHIONIDÆ, Vig.
Genus Dromaius, Vieill.
I formerly entertained an opinion that there were two species of Emu inhabiting Australia, but I have not had sufficient proofs that such is the case. The small specimens in the possession of the Linnean Society of London and in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, may only be stunted birds which had been kept in captivity, but as some doubt still remains in my mind the subject should be kept in view.
| 457. Dromaius Novæ-Hollandiæ | Vol. VI. Pl. 1. |
Genus Apteryx, Shaw.
New Zealand is the only country wherein the members of this genus now exist; but they doubtless formerly ranged over that continent of which the greater part is submerged beneath the surface of the ocean, and of which a few isolated spots—New Zealand, Norfolk and Phillip Islands among others—alone remain.