312 Birds. 



depth of six feet, in one of the largest mounds 1 had then 

 seen. In this instance the holes ran down in an oblique 

 direction from the centre towards the outer slope of the 

 hillock, so that, although the eggs were six feet deep from 

 the summit, they were only two or three feet from the 

 side. The birds are said to lay but a single egg in each 

 hole, and after the egg is deposited the earth is imme- 

 diately thrown down lightly, until the hole is filled up ; 

 the upper part of the mound is then smoothed and rounded 

 over. It is easily known when a Jungle-fowl has been 

 recently excavating, from the distinct impression of its 

 feet on the top and sides of the mound, and from the earth 

 being so lightly thrown over, that with a slender stick the 

 direction of the hole may readily be detected ; the ease 

 or difficulty of thrusting the stick down indicating the 

 length of time that has elapsed since the birds' opera- 

 tions. Thus far it is easy enough; but to reach the 

 eggs requires no little exertion and perseverance. The 

 natives dig them up with their hands alone, and only 

 make sufficient room to admit their bodies, and to throw 

 out the earth between their legs : by grubbing with 

 their fingers alone, they are enabled to follow the direc- 

 tion of the hole with greater certainty, which will some- 

 times, at a depth of several feet, turn off abruptly at 

 right angles, its direct course being obstructed by a 

 clump of wood, or some other impediment." 



In all probability, as Nature has adopted this mode of 

 reproduction, she has also furnished the tender birds 

 with the power of sustaining themselves from the earliest 

 period ; and the great size of the egg would equally lead 

 to this conclusion, since in so large a space it is reason- 

 able to suppose that the bird would be much more de- 

 veloped than is usually found in eggs of smaller dimen- 

 sions. The eggs are perfectly white, of a long, oval 

 form, three inches and three quarters long by two inches 

 and a half in diameter. 



There are several other Australian birds which adopt 

 the same singular mode of hatching their eggs ; one of 

 these is called the Native Pheasant (Leipoa ocellata), and 

 another the Brush Turkey (Takgalla Laihami). The 

 latter has its head and neck covered with a naked skin, 



