134 LEIPOA OCELLATA. 



might be domesticated. Its eggs are said to be 

 delicious eating, and they are much sought after. 

 Mr. Gould adds that they are in the habit of 

 resorting to the branches of trees, as a shelter 

 from the mid-day sun, at which time they will 

 allow a succession of shots to be fired at them, 

 until they are all brought down. Unless some 

 measure, therefore, is adopted for their preser- 

 vation, this circumstance must lead to an early 

 extinction of the race. 



The habits also of the Ocellated Leipoa (Leipoa 

 ocellata) are equally curious. It is found in the 

 little -explored regions of Australia, and its fa- 

 vourite country appears to be the barren sandy 

 plains of the interior. It is a ground bird, never 

 taking to a tree except when closely hunted. In 

 examining its habits, it is most curious to observe 

 how beautifully the means, employed by nature 

 for the reproduction of the species, are adapted 

 to the situations it is destined to inhabit. In 

 its actions and manner it is very like the do- 

 mestic fowl and about the same size. It deposits 

 its eggs in a mound of sand, the formation of 

 which is the work of both sexes. They scratch 

 up the sand for many yards around, forming 

 a mound of about three feet in height ; the 

 inside being constructed of alternate layers of 

 dried leaves, grasses, &c., amongst which the eggs 

 are deposited to the number of twelve or upwards, 



