VII. AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 61 



leaves, debris, and sand, scraped together by the birds, the heat 

 from which while decomposing relieves the parent birds of all 

 further responsibility as regards their incubation. The Mound- 

 raising Megapode (^Megapodius tumulus) and the Wattled Tale- 

 gallus [Taleg alius lathami) are found in the rich brushes of the 

 Northern and Eastern coast of Australia, while the Ocellated 

 Leipoa {Leipoa ocellata) gives preference to the Mallee scrubs 

 of the interior. 



Order GRALLATORES. The Order Grallatores comes 

 next in Bay No. 6, and includes many genera ; several groups 

 are shown, one of them being the Australian Bustard {Eupodotis 

 australis), which is worthy of attention as being the largest of all 

 our game birds. Among the Wading Birds the most interesting 

 are the Bed-headed Avocet ( Recurvirostra rubi'icollis), the Banded 

 Stilt ( Cladorhynchus pectoralis), and the White-headed Stilt 

 {Himantopus leucocepJialus). In this bay will be found also the 

 diflferent species of Water Crakes, Ibises, Dotterels, Gallinules, 

 Spoonbills, Herons, Bitterns, &c. 



Order NATATORES. The species representing this order 

 are in Bay No. 7. These are the Ducks, Geese, Grebes, &c., 

 and the large and varied species of sea birds found frequenting 

 the seas that wash the Australian coast ; among these may be 

 pointed out the different species of Albatross, Gulls, Petrels and 

 Cormorants. In this bay is a group of the Bed-tailed Tropic 

 Bird (Phaeton ruhricauda), representing the breeding place with 

 an egg of the species. 



Order STRUTHIONES or Running Birds. We now 

 come to the last of the Australian Birds, which for want of space 

 are placed in Bay No. 8, viz., a group of Emus (Dromaius novce- 

 JioUandice) with their eggs and young. It is a matter of regret 

 that this fine bird is being so rapidly exterminated, and that in 

 a few years, the only examples likely to be met with will be from 

 the interior of Australia. 



