170 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



was thrown behind it, with but httle apparent exertion, and 

 without shifting its standing position on the other leg ; this 

 habit seemed to be the result of an innate restless disposition 

 and a desire to use its powerful feet, and to have but little 

 connexion with its feeding; for although Indian corn was 

 mixed with the sand, I never detected the bird in picking any 

 of it lip while thus employed. 



"I continued to receive the eggs without having an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing them taken from the mound until the 6th of 

 February, when on again visiting Knocker's Bay I had the 

 gratification of seeing two taken from a depth of six feet, in 

 one of the largest mounds I had then seen. In this instance 

 the holes ran down in an obhque direction from the centre 

 towards the outer slope of the hillock, so that, although the 

 eggs were six feet deep from the summit, they were only two or 

 three feet from the side. The birds are said to lay but a 

 single egg in each hole, and after the egg is deposited the 

 earth is immediately thrown down lightly until the hole is 

 filled up ; the upper part of the mound is then smoothed and 

 rounded over. It is easily known when a Megapode has 

 been recently excavating, from the distinct impressions of its 

 feet on the top and sides of the mound, and the earth being 

 so lightly thrown over, that with a slender stick the direction 

 of the hole is readily detected, the ease or difficulty of thrusting 

 the stick down indicating the length of time that may have 

 elapsed since the bird's operations. Thus far it is easy 

 enough ; but to reach the eggs requires no little exertion and 

 perseverance. The natives dig them up with their hands 

 alone, and only make sufficient room to admit their bodies, 

 and to throw out the earth between their legs ; by grubbing 

 with their fingers alone they are enabled to follow the direction 

 of the hole with greater certainty, which will sometimes, at a 

 depth of several feet, turn off" abruptly at right angles, its 

 direct course being obstructed by a clump of wood or some 

 otlier impediment. Their patience is, however, often put to 



