NESTING OF TALEGALLA 



Phasianidae. But the differences which distinguish all 

 the pheasants, Callus bankiv.j, the origin of the domestic 

 fowl, turkeys, partr'dges, and grouse, are but small. 



THE MOUND-BUILDER. 



With a perversity which characterized some of the 

 earlier ornithologists, the Australian mound-builder 

 (Talegalla lathami) was regarded as a vulture ; and it 

 was not until Sir Richard Owen explained its anatomy 

 to the Zoological Society in the " forties " that its true 

 place among the gallinaceous birds was fully established. 

 And yet no bird bears upon it the outward marks of a 

 " scratcher " more plainly than does Talegalla. " Brush 

 Turkey " is so obviously more suitable, as an appellation 

 than " New Holland vulture," even to the least expert 

 of bird observers, that one can have no pity for the 

 stupidity which confused its relations with other mem- 

 bers of the bird world. Its strutting and scratching 

 alone betray it. In appearance the brush turkey or 

 mound builder is not conspicuous, sooty brown being 

 the main element in its colouring. It is rather from 

 what it does than what it is that this bird is worthy of 

 our attention. As a rule, there are examples at the 

 Zoo : and also as a rule they construct their huge 

 mounds of dead leaves and rubbish in which to place 

 their eggs. Unlike the bird tribe generally, this fowl 

 lays its eggs in common in such a heap, and leaves them 

 to be hatched by the heat of the sun, aided no doubt 

 by heat-producing fermentation within the mass. " Sic 

 vos non vobis nidificatis aves " might well be said of 

 this bird. For its nest is merely a nursery and no 

 dwelling-house for the assiduous parents. It is a 

 nursery, too, more on the lines of a creche ; for many 

 families live together in one mound and leave their 

 common home almost as soon as they are hatched ; 

 for in accordance with the " reptilian " mode of leaving 



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