JUNGLE-FOWL. 143 



sea-beach. It appears never to go far inland, ex- 

 cept along the banks of creeks. It is either met with 

 in pairs, or quite solitary, and feeds on the ground ; 

 its food consisting of roots, which its powerful 

 claws enable it to scratch up with the greatest fa- 

 cility, and also of seeds, berries, and insects. 



These birds lay their eggs from the latter part of 

 August till March. Their flight is heavy ; and on 

 alighting on a tree, they stretch out their heads and 

 necks in a straight line with their bodies, remain- 

 ing in this position as stationary and motionless 

 as the branch upon which they are perched. Their 

 note or cry is said to resemble the clucking of the 

 domestic fowl, ending with a scream, like that 

 of the peacock. Their habits are particularly shy 

 and retired. 



It is impossible that the accounts of these birds 

 should fail to interest every lover of nature. Mr. 

 Gould, from whom I have received them, and 

 whose kindness and assistance I now beg grate- 

 fully to acknowledge, has shewn so much ardour 

 and enterprize in his researches, accompanied by 

 so much good sense and discrimination in his 

 varied pursuits, that he must always rank among 

 the first of English naturalists. 



Curious and interesting as the account of the 

 Mound-birds maybe, we are still further indebted 

 to Mr. Gould, for his having been the first to place 

 upon record, a still more extraordinary account of 



