AUSTRALIAN JUNGLE FOWL. — Merjrqnklms iumvlus. 



"The birds are said to lay but a single egg in each hole, and after the egg is deposited, 

 the earth is immediately thrown down lightly until the hole is fdled up ; the upper part 

 of the mound is then smoothed and rounded over. It is easily known where a Jungle 

 Fowl has been recently excavating, from the distinct impression of its feet on the top 

 and sides of the mound ; and the earth being so lightly thrown over, that with a slender 

 stick the direction of the hole is readily detected, the ease or difficulty of thrusting 

 the stick down indicating the length of time that may have elapsed since the bird's 

 operations. 



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 feel the direction of the hole with greater 

 certainty, which will sometimes, 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. 



Tlieir patience is, however, often put to severe trials. In the present instance the 

 native dug down six times to a depth of, at least, six or seven feet, without finding an 

 egg, and at the last attempt came up in such a state of exhaustion that he refused to try 

 again. But my interest was now too much excited to relinquish the opportunity of 

 verifying the native's statement, and by the offer of an additional reward I induced him to 

 try again. This seventh trial proved successful, and my gratification was complete when 

 the native, with equal pride and satisfaction, held up an egg, and after two or three 

 more attempts, produced a second ; thus proving how cautious Europeans should be in 



