THE BRUSH TURKEY. 341 



account of the very great comparative size of the feet. It is a 

 native of New South Wales, and is generally found in the densest 

 bushes, through which it can make its way with such rapidity 

 that it can scarcely be captured. As the bird is called by many 

 names, I will mention one or two of them, so that the reader may 

 be better able to identify it while reading the accounts of observ- 

 ant but unscientific travelers. The natives sometimes call it Tal- 

 legalla, and sometimes Weelah ; and it is occasionally named the 

 New Holland Vulture, because the bare head and neck give it a 

 somewhat vulturine aspect. 



"We will now proceed to the nest itself. 



This curious edifice is often of very great size, several cart- 

 loads of materials being used, and its dimensions enlarged from 

 year to year. In order to show the general appearance of the 

 nest, an example is shown in the background, with the bird run- 

 ning over it. The mound is conical in shape, and, as may be im- 

 agined from its enormous size, is the result of joint labor, several 

 hens uniting in its formation. The method by which it is made 

 is very curious, and Mr. Gould's account of the bird has been 

 fully corroborated by the habits of the birds in the Zoological 

 Gardens. 



Tracing a circle of considerable radius, the birds begin to travel 

 round it, continually grasping with their large feet the leaves, and 

 grasses, and dead twigs which are lying about, and flinging them 

 inward toward the centre. Each time that they complete their 

 rounds they narrow their circle, so that in a short time they clear 

 away a large circular belt, having in its centre a low, irregular 

 heap. By repeating the same process, however, they decrease 

 the diameter of the mound as they increase its height, and at last 

 a large and rudely conical mound is formed. 



The next process is to scrape away the middle of the heap un- 

 til a cavity of nearly two feet is formed, in which the eggs are 

 carefully placed, being set in the peculiar manner which has also 

 been mentioned. They are then covered up, and are hatched by 

 the joint effects of fermentation and hot sunbeams. By adopting 

 this process the bird does not escape any of the cares of materni- 

 ty, for the male is very watchful over the eggs, being gifted with 

 a wonderful instinct, which tells him of the temperature which is 

 proper for them. Sometimes he covers them with a thick layer 

 of leaves, and sometimes he lays them nearly bare, these opera- 

 tions being repeated several times in a single day. 



