196 ON THE HABITS OF THE MALLEE HEN, LEIPOA OCELLATA, 



come up from a lower layer, it could certainly have passed through 

 l7ew inches of loose sand between it and the exterior of Ue 

 mound and from careful observations on thxs point I am 

 Tnvid that the chick can liberate itself. The egg » o large 

 ze consequently the chick is large and possessed of considerable 

 Hugh; and on emerging from the shell, which is extreme y 

 life, is natural instincts prompt it to struggle for an • andhgW, 

 to struggles displace the sand, which runs down beneath the bird 

 and thus gradually it gets higher andhigher. Its passage through 

 the warm dry sand completely removes any moisture clinging to 

 t on mering from the shell, and, when at last it reaches the 

 ummi^f Uie g monnd, it is a fully developed bird -***.£. 

 and take care of itself, which, in fact, it has to do, for the old bird 

 having so far conformed to maternal instincts as to assist in 

 S out of the nest, now totally ignores its presence ; will 

 fwLs one equally devoid of affectionate instincts, evinces fear 

 X-n"qnickly runs off amongst the ; dense « ^poreuprne 

 ffra ss" and commences its lonely existence, for lonely this bird 

 fl c dedlv is, leading a solitary life ; for, except at the period of 

 "tion,'it is ve; rarely that two are seen ***«£££ 

 met with quietly feeding its actions are suggestive of -"£ 

 for it has none of the liveliness that characterises almost all other 

 ted bu stalks along in a solemn manner as if the dreary nature 

 o its surroundings Ld its solitary life weighed heavily on it. 

 Pi 7* Z note (not often uttered) is a most mournful sound 

 mlinglike that of the bronze winged pigeon but mu« 

 and each note much more prolonged. The food of this bird 

 Tl^ot insects, the seeds and berries of various shrubs, and the 

 ne shoots of plants. In its wild state it is entirely indcpenden 

 of water but will sometimes drink when domesticated. It is 

 asL domesticated but evinces no intelligence or affection, and its 

 habits and actions are marked by the same cheerlessness and love 

 f^ude as in its wild state. Although I have had a number 

 them reared together until full grown, yet, wl-U-J* 

 thev would not associate but each go its own way, although so 

 tamest they would take food from a person's hand and allow 



