HALYCON. TALEGALLA. 131 



water for itself or its young. Unlike our own 

 kingfisher, which seems to delight in moisture, it 

 never plunges into the water, but it feeds on liz- 

 ards, grasshoppers and caterpillars, and very small 

 snakes; the latter being killed by beating their 

 heads against a stone or other hard substance. 

 They are all swallowed whole, and the moisture of 

 their bodies must supply the want of water. This 

 is another instance of the adaptation of a creature 

 to the peculiar situation in which it is found. 



Mr. Gould, also, mentions some curious facts 

 relating to the habits of the Wattled Talegalla 

 (Talegalla Lathami,) and which forms one of the 

 numerous anomalies of Australia. This bird seems 

 to be allied to the gallinaceee, the head having much 

 of the appearance of that of the turkey, and the 

 body is shaped like those of our domestic fowls. Its 

 bright yellow wattles, and red neck, give it a pecu- 

 liar appearance. The feet are large and strong, 

 and of a disproportionate size, and the claws are 

 slightly curved. We shall presently see the uses 

 for which they were designed. 



It is a remarkable fact, that this bird does not 

 hatch its eggs by incubation. In order to effect 

 this object, it assimilates in some degree to the 

 practice of the ostrich, yet upon a totally different 

 principle. The talegalla collects together an im- 

 mense heap of decaying vegetable matter, as a 

 depository for the eggs, and trusts to the heat en- 



