MEGAPODIUS. 231 



that this was " Jungle-fowl's house." Mr. Gilbert 

 having scrambled up the side of it, found in a 

 hole, two feet deep, a young bird, apparently only 

 a few days old, lying on some dry leaves. The 

 native decided, from the absence of recent traces 

 of the old birds, that it was useless to search for 

 eggs. The young bird was put into a box, with a 

 quantity of sand and some Indian corn, which it 

 ate freely. Its disposition was wild and intract- 

 able, and it was incessantly employed in scratching 

 up the sand into heaps, and throwing it from one 

 end of the box to another with a surprising ra- 

 pidity for so small a bird. In scratching, the bird 

 employed only one foot, and having grasped a 

 handful, as it were, threw it behind with little 

 apparent exertion, and without shifting its stand- 

 ing position on the other leg, an action which 

 seemed to have, little connexion with its feeding; 

 for though the corn was mixed with the sand, Mr. 

 Gilbert never detected the bird in picking up any 

 while thus engaged. At night it was so restless 

 and noisy, that it was impossible to sleep, making 

 efforts to escape, which, on the third day, it 

 effected. 



Some months after this Mr. Gilbert saw two 

 eggs taken from a depth of six feet, in one of the 

 largest mounds he had met with. The holes ran 

 obliquely downwards, so that, though the eggs 

 were six feet from the summit, they were not 

 more than two or three feet distant from the side. 

 A single egg is laid in each hole, which is then 

 filled with earth lightly thrown in, and smoothed 

 at the top. To reach the eggs requires no little 

 exertion and perseverance ; the natives dig them 

 up with the hands alone, making only sufficient 



