4 Bird -Lore 



the birds using their strong feet for scraping, and their breast and wings 

 for impelling the sand forward. The dimensions of an ordinary mound 

 (which is usually more or less cone-shaped) by actual tape measurement, 

 which I took on the spot, were ten feet in diameter at base by about 

 two feet in height. There appeared to be about one hundred and fifty 

 cubic feet of sand and rubbish. Notwithstanding the large dimensions 

 of the mound, the portion of the center containing the eggs was only 

 about fifteen inches in diameter. Only a pair of birds own a mound, 

 which they commence to build (or to reconstruct an old one) about 



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MALLEE FOWL (/.i>oa). After Gould 



June or July, although the female does not lay until September or October. 

 No doubt the mound is so prepared early to receive the winter and spring 

 rains; the water collecting in the shallow course, and consequently run- 

 ning through and underneath the leaves, it is left open for that purpose 

 (see illustration). An inch or two of dry, loose sand covers the leaves. 

 Then comes a tier or layer of four eggs (Gould states eight), each being 

 placed perpendicularly on its small end. The four eggs are placed four 

 or five inches apart, forming a square. More sand covers them and 

 another tier of eggs is placed opposite the interstices of the underneath 

 tier, and so on, till a complement of twelve or even sixteen is sometimes 

 reached. But it should be remembered that the mound is completely 

 built up after it has received the necessary rain or moisture, and is opened 

 every time the female lays ; consequently a great amount of toil devolves 



