34 



Wonders of the Bird World 



lay in the early days of September, or when the spear-grass 

 begins to shoot. Both sexes approach the nest together when 

 the female is about to lay, and they take an equal share in the 

 labour of covering and uncovering the mound. After every 

 sunrise the female deposits an egg, and lays altogether from 

 eight to ten. If the natives rob the mound, the female will 

 lay again in the same nest, but she will only lay the full 

 number of eggs twice in one summer. From the com- 

 mencement of building, until the last eggs are hatched, four 

 moons elapse, which would give a very long period of time 

 before the last young one emerges. The nestling scratches 

 its way out alone, and the mother does not assist it. The 

 young birds usually come out one at a time; occasionally 



Section through the mound in its undisturbed state, the pale tint indicating the portion of 

 sand, the darker tint the leaves, etc. (From a sketch by the late Sir George Grey in 

 Gould's ' Handbook.') 



a pair appear together. The mother, who is feeding in the 

 scrub in the vicinity, hears the call of the nestling and runs 

 to it, and then takes care of it as a domestic fowl does of 

 its chick. When the young are all hatched, the mother is 

 accompanied by eight or ten nestlings, who remain with 

 her until they are more than half-grown. The male bird 

 does not accompany them." The mound of the Lipoa is 

 described by Sir George Grey as follows "A nearly 

 circular hole, of about eighteen inches in diameter, is 

 scratched in the ground to the depth of seven or eight 

 inches, and filled with dead leaves, dead grass, and similar 

 materials; and a large mass of the same substance is 

 placed all round it upon the ground. Over this first layer 

 a large mound of sand, mixed with dried grass, etc., is 



