THE BRUSH TURKEY. 459 



that it bears some resemblance to a large ant-heap, a similitude which is greatly strengthened 

 by the large number of ants which are always found in the mounds, and by the indurated 

 substance of its lower portion, which is sometimes so hard that the eggs cannot be got at 

 without the aid of a chisel. These nests are generally well hidden away from observation, 

 being placed in the driest and sandiest spots, in which a thick dense bush grows so plentifully 

 that a human being can hardly force his way through them, though the bird is able to traverse 

 their intricacies with great celerity. 



The mound is composed of sand and soil, containing a mass of leaves and grass, in the 

 midst of which the eggs are laid, each egg being carefully placed separately from the others. 

 There are many eggs, often more than a dozen, and one of these mounds is quite a little 

 property to the person who is fortunate enough to find it, as the bird will suffer her nest to be 

 robbed repeatedly, and will lay over and over again, thus affording a bountiful supply of eggs 

 to the discoverer. The color of the eggs is white with a very slight tinge of red. 



The Leipoa is an active bird, chiefly depending on its legs, like the pheasant, and never 

 seeking to escape by flight unless absolutely driven to such a course. When startled, its 

 usual plan is to take to its legs, and run off at full speed, threading the bushes with great 

 rapidity and being very likely to escape if the bush be thick. But if it be surprised when the 

 ground is tolerably open, it may be run down and captured without much difficulty, as it 

 possesses a stupid habit which was formerly attributed to the ostrich. Looking naturally 

 upon the bushes as its home, it makes at once for the nearest bush, dashes into it, and there 

 remains until the pursuer comes up and drags it from its fancied refuge. 



The head of the Leipoa is decorated with a well-defined crest, which, like the remainder 

 of the head, is blackish-brown. The neck and shoulders are dark ashen-gray, and the front 

 of the neck and the upper part of the breast are covered with long black pointed feathers, 

 each having a white stripe along its centre. The primary feathers of the wings are dark 

 brown, having some sharply-toothed lines near the tip, and the feathers of the back and 

 remainder of the wings are marked near their extremities with three bands of grayish-white, 

 brown, and black, forming a series of "eyes" upon the feathers. The under surface is 

 buff, the flanks being barred with black. The tail is deep blackish -brown with a broad buff 

 tip, the bill is black, and the legs blackish-brown. In size the Leipoa is about equal to a very 

 small turkey. 



ANOTHER very remarkable bird possesses many of the same habits as the two preceding 

 species. This is the BRUSH TURKEY, sometimes called the WATTLED TALLEGALLA or the 

 NEW HOLLAND VULTURE, the latter extraordinary title having been given to it on account of 

 its head and neck, which in some parts are devoid of feathers, in others are covered only with 

 short hair, and in others are decorated with naked fleshy wattles. The native name is Weelah. 



This bird is far from uncommon in many parts of New South Wales, and inhabits the 

 densest bushes of that country. Like the Leipoa, when pursued it endeavors to effect its 

 escape by running through the tangled brush, a feat which it can perform very adroitly, but it 

 is not so silly as to allow itself to be taken by hand as in the case of the preceding species. 

 When very closely pursued, and unable to escape by speed, it jumps into the lowest branch of 

 some tree, leaps from bough to bough until it has reached the top, and either perches there or 

 flies off to another part of the brush. 



The Brush Turkey is a gregarious bird, living in small companies, and, like the true 

 turkey, is very wary and suspicious. The great enemy of this bird is the dingo or native dog, 

 which persecutes the flocks sadly, and often hunts them down. From this foe they are safe 

 by flying into a tree ; but this elevated position only makes them the more subject to the 

 colonist' s gun, and as the birds seem stunned or bewildered by the report, they will suffer 

 several rounds to be fired before they will fly away. Moreover, they have a habit of resorting 

 to the trees at midday, and sheltering themselves from the sun under the spreading foliage, so 

 that any one who has a knowledge of the customs of this bird may be sure of good sport and a 

 heavy bag. 



The food of the Brush Turkey mostly consists of seeds and vegetable substances, though 



