32 



THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



Island, in Torres Straits, in close proximity to a miner's tent, which it greatly 

 exceeds in dimensions, is given on this page. 



The second species of mound-builder is the Talegalla, or so-called Brush or 

 Scrub Turkey, Talegalla Lathami. This bird is larger than the preceding, the male 

 being the size of a turkey, which it much resembles in shape, while the head and 

 neck are bare of feathers and ornamented with a fleshy wattle much after the manner 

 of typical members of that group. While met with most abundantly in the thick 

 scrubs of the extreme north, the area of distribution of the Talegalla extends much 

 further south than that of the preceding type. The habits of this species are 

 essentially gregarious, many birds usually combining towards tire construction of the 

 huge mound-like nest ; and as many as a bushel of eggs, which are most excellent 

 eating, are not unfrequently abstracted from a single mound. As with the preceding 

 species, the Scrub Turkeys use their powerful feet only in the construction of their 

 nest, grasping bunches of leaves, grass, and all other available substances with one 

 foot, and throwing it backwards towards the selected spot. In this manner they 



, W. Sarille-Kinl, Photo. 



MINER'S TENT AND NEST-MOUND OF AUSTRALIAN JUNGLE FOWL, Megapodium tumulus, OOODB ISLAND, TORRES STRAITS, p. 31. 



