166 MK(iAl'Ul)llII.B. 



thesuiface refuse for fioin thirty to forty feet from the mound, liy Lontinually scratching 

 back. Tlie size of the mound for the Inst hatching,' is from seven feet to ten feet in diameter, liy 

 about three feet deep, and as each laying season comes on, the mound is increased nntil it is 

 about twenty-five feet in diameter by six feet deep. The nesting-mounds are prepared in 

 September, to get the necessary heat for incubation, the laying season starting in October and 

 lasting to about December. From my observations much depends on climatic changes as to 

 early or late layings, the showery weather being the most favoured by the Brush Turkey. 

 On digging out a mound there is a difliculty in getting straight down, on account of the sticks, 

 which \ary from a fibrous root to a branch four inclies in diameter and seven feet long. 

 The eggs are deposited on end in holes, made by the parent bird (eighteen inches to two 

 feet six inches deep and one foot to one foot six inches apart), and filled in. I have never 

 seen a Brush 'J'urkey laying, but fium the incubation of tlie eggs I would say the laying 

 is not every day, two to three days elapsing from one laying to the other. 'I'lie greatest 

 number of eggs collected by me from one nest was eighteen ; strictly speaking seventeen 

 eggs and one chicken which, when the nest was opened sufficiently, ran out, and was so strong 

 I was not able to capture it. These eggs were in different stages of incubation : one was 

 perfectly fresh, and others within a day and two days or more of hatching; in fact almost every 

 stage of incubation was represented. I believe that the parent bird, on hearing the chickens 

 chirp, assists them out, as I have sliot parent birds at the nesting-mound near dusk, and chickens 

 were hatching at the time. As soon as the young one is free it seeks its own living ; they are 

 quite independent, having nothing to do with the parent bird, nor are they able to fly, but soon 

 learn. Tiiey run along tire ground for some distance to get speed on, and gently rise for a fly; 

 this they are able to do on the second or third day after leaving the nest. The food is chiefly 

 fruits. The note of the adult bird is hardly audible, resembling far away thunder or a Cassowary 



note at a distance, ' oooo m.' The greatest enemy the Brush Turkey has in this district 



is the wild pig, as it roots up the mounds looking for giubs, comes on the eggs and devours 

 them. The Brush Turkey is a very poor flier, and seldom goes any distance if disturbed on a 

 tree; just flies from branch to branch." 



Mr. b'rank 1 lislop, of Wyalla, Bloomlield Iviver, North-eastern ( hieensland, sent me the 

 following notes : — " 'l"he Brush Tut key is usually found nesting on the mountains only. 1 found 

 two nesting-mounds in the scrub at the foot of a mountain ; only one of these was used. The birds 

 \'ery often build their mounds, but for some reason do not use them. Most are found near the tops 

 of the highest mountains; they are much smaller than the mound of the Megapode, the average 

 size being about eight feet in diameter at the base, and about four feet high ; the eggs are laid 

 from eighteen inches to two feet six inches from the surface. The Brush Turkey uses more 

 leaves and rubbish than the Scrub Hen does in building the mound; 1 think nearly all the nest 

 building is done by the male bird. I have shot several of them oil a mound, and on only one 

 occasion has the bird proved to be a female, ft is seldom that more than live or six eggs are 

 taken from a nest at once, but I knew of an instance where sixteen were found. The young 

 birds can fly soon after they are hatched, and when they leave the nest all make for the low-lying 

 country, and are found right down in the Mangrove Swamps near the sea ; it is at this time that 

 the natives spear most, as when flushed the young birds seldom fly into a tall tree. The Brush 

 Turkey li\es on fiuit, land shells and yams, and does not seem to be very particular what it 

 eats. When feeding they sometimes utter a croaking noise like a frog, but I have never heard 

 them make any other sound. The bill is very strong ; they ate \'ery fond of sugar-cane, and 

 one could always be sure of flushing some at the edge of the fields. They lemain in this district 

 throughout the year, though they are not found in such numbers when not breeding." 



Mr. Robt. Grant has handed me the following notes : — " While collecting with Mr. E. J. 

 Cairn in and around Cairns and ]!)ouble Island, North-eastern Queensland, the Brush Turkey 



