124 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



The nut of one of these species, (Quercus Dalbertisii) is in size 

 and shape similar to that of Q. Pseudo Molucca, but it is not 

 apiculated, thus almost semiovate; the nut of the other species is 

 smaller, almost cordate-hemispheric and slightly pointed, thus not 

 unlike that of Q. daphnoidea. 



MALLEE HENS AND THEIR EGG MOUNDS. 



By a. J. Campbell. 



(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, Dec. 8, 1884. 



If the map of Victoria be consulted, there will be found the town- 

 ship of Dimboola, on the Wimmora River, about 250 miles in a 

 north-westerly direction by railroad from Melbourne. Twenty-five 

 miles to the westward of Dimboola is situated Nhill, a goodly town- 

 ship in the great shire of Lowan, in the vast Wimmera district. 

 Nhill (corrupted from the aboriginal pronunciation "Nee-ill," 

 meaning the abode of a spirit,) is a flom-ishing township, and 

 although not more than four years old, can boast of an hospital, 

 mechanics' institute, flour mill, numerous churches and banks, a 

 newspaper, &c. In this locality I elected to spend a portion of my 

 holidays this season, partly to attend to some private business, and 

 partly to pursue my much-loved hobby, and, as this opportunity 

 offered, to study the nidification of the so called Mallee Hens. 



When anything is mentioned about the Mallee country, there is 

 instantly conveyed to the mind of many people a vivid ^picture of 

 desert land, the abode only of wild dogs and latterly of rabbits. 

 Never was there a greater error. It is predicted that in the near 

 future the Mallee country will be among the most fruitful and pro- 

 ductive parts of the Colony of Victoria. The Mallee scrub is a 

 species of dwarf gum-tree or Eucalyptus, and 10 to 12 small trees 

 spring from the one root. The foliage spreads over-head 10 to 20 

 feet from the ground. The wood is hard and durable, the bark as 

 a rule smooth and thin, 



Tliis scrub generally grows in a loose yellowish sandy soil, and in 

 long belts varying from half a mile to miles in breadth. Between 

 the belts there are corresponding good tracts of country more openly 

 timbered with bull-oak, and still more thickly in parts where they 

 are interspersed with one or more varieties of gum trees, Murray 

 pine, &c. 



As season follows season, these birds are bound to become scarcer, 

 therefore at this present time I am anxious to place before the club 

 somewhat limited remarks on habits of the Mallee fowls, and the 

 wonderful manner in which the eggs are incubated. The remarks 

 are compiled from the published notes of the late Mr. John Gould's 



