This study was undertaken to investigate the structural and configurational characteristics of the tailings return-unit in the commercially available head-feed combines and to study the aero-dynamical behavior of the tailings in the units. The mathematical model of the motion of tailings in the thrower casing was developed and the simulated trajectories for different type of units was analyzed to compare with the measured ones. The air-stream velocity profile in various locations along the tailings returning duct was measured to find the effect of configurational characteristics and blade tip speed. The results of the study are summerized as follows. 1. The ejecting angle, which is the angle between the direction of the particle velocity ejecting from the blade and the horizontal axis, was found to be about $66^{circ}$ in both the simulation and experiment. The angle was much greater than the setting angle of actual duct of the combines studied, which were $48{sim}56^{circ}$. By comparison of these results, it was suggested to change duct setting angle so as to reduce the frictional force, between the duct wall and tailings, by reducing the difference between the ejecting and setting angles. 2. The velocity of the air stream in the duct was in general higher in the upper bound of the duct compared to the lower and decreased as the stream went toward the end of duct. The comparison of the tailings units among the combines studied showed a superior performance with the tapered duct having small diameter in the outlet and with greater number of thrower blade.