394 REPTILES A\D B/XDS. 



These birds are naturally stupid, and cannot habituate them- 

 selves to captivity. They live in small flocks, except during the 

 breeding season. They fly heavily, always in a straight line, and are 

 swift runners. Some species manifest such sluggishness that they 

 will remain the entire day without moving, and will not even take 

 the trouble to escape from their enemies. They have the habit of 

 rolling themselves in the dust, and frequent indifferently cultivated 

 ground, grassy meadows, or thick woods. Except in rare instances, 

 they sleep upon the ground. They are crepuscular that is, they 

 seek their food in the early mornings and evenings, and even by 

 moonlight. Their selection of nutriment is frugivorous, granivo- 

 rous, insectivorous, and vermivorous. They make their nests on 

 the ground, and lay twice a year seven or eight eggs. Their flesh 

 is good, and much sought after. 



Tinamotis elegans may be taken as a representative of the order. 



CHIONIDID^. 



The birds belonging to this family are characterised by a short, 

 crooked, and stout bill, long and pointed wings, a middling-sized 

 tail, and a merely rudimentary back toe. The size of the Chionididce 

 varies between the Partridge and the Pigeon. The species of 

 Chionis, Tinochore, and Attagas are included in this family. 



The Sheath-bill (Chionis alba}, a good type of this genus, is 

 remarkable for its marine habits ; it frequents the sea-beach, and 

 feeds on sea-weed and animal remains. They are to be found in 

 Australia and New Zealand. The Tinochore and the Attagas are 

 natives of Chili and Paraguay : their habits are not known. 



MEGAPODID^E. 



The distinctive features of this family are as follow : the bill 

 straight and slender ; the tarsi long and stout ; the feet tetra- 

 dactylous, and furnished with long and strong claws. This family 

 comprises three genera : the Megapodius, Leipoa, and Takgalla. 



The Megapodii are but little known. All that has been ascer- 

 tained is, that they inhabit marshy localities, fly but little, and run 

 like Partridges. They lay each of their eggs in a separate hole, 

 which is in a mound sometimes of truly gigantic size, and scraped 

 together by the birds ; there they are left to be hatched by the heat 

 of the sun. The young birds are able to dispense with maternal 

 assistance, and to provide for their own wants on leaving the shell. 



