34 6 



The Crane-like Birds 



about daybreak, in loud, piercing, yelping notes, continued for some time, which 

 can be heard a mile away. It is said to be nocturnal in its habits, feeding on 

 worms, insects, and small mollusks. Thus far, it appears, the nest and eggs of 

 this curious bird have 1 not been found in a wild state, although it has laid in con- 



FIG. 113. Kagu, Rkinochetus jubatus. 



fmement in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London, and more recently 

 Mr. A. J. North has described several eggs laid in confinement in Australia. 

 Two birds, presumed to be a male and female, were observed to form a nest of 

 dried twigs and leaves at the bottom of a box in their aviary, in which a single 

 egg was deposited. This was sat on for three weeks, one bird occasionally 

 relieving the other, but as there was no sign of a chick in the egg it was removed. 

 Two other eggs were subsequently laid and both proved infertile. These eggs 



