The Plate represents the bird of the natural size. [Illustration: HEMIPODIUS VARIUS. _J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._ ] HEMIPODIUS VARIUS. Varied Hemipode. _Perdix varia_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. lxiii. _New Holland Partridge_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 283. _Varied Quail_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. viii. p. 344. no. 88. _Hemipodius varius_, Temm. Pl. Col., 454. f. 1.—Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part II. _Turnix varius_, Vieill. 2nd Edit. du Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxxiv.—Ib. Ency. Méth., part i. p. 331.—List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., part iii. p. 41. _Mȍo-ro-lum_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia. _Painted Quail_, Colonists of Van Diemen’s Land and Swan River. Among the game birds of Australia the Varied Hemipode plays a rather prominent part, for although its flesh is not so good for the table as that of the little partridge and quail, _Synoïcus Australis_ and _Coturnix pectoralis_, it is a bird which is not to be despised when the game-bag is emptied at the end of a day’s sport, as it forms a not unacceptable variety to its contents. Although it does not actually associate with either of the birds mentioned above, it is often found in the same districts, and all three species may be procured in the course of a morning’s walk in any part of the colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. The natural habits of the _Hemipodius varius_ lead it to frequent sterile stony ridges, interspersed with scrubby trees and moderately thick grass; the quail, on the other hand, tenants the open plains and fields of corn; the little partridge loves to dwell in swampy lands, where the herbage is rank and green; and these particulars relative to the habits of the three birds in question being known to the colonists who have paid any attention to sporting, it is easy for them, by varying their ground, to procure either of the species they desire to obtain.