BE LLCHAMBERS— Notes on the Mallee Fowl. 79 



The following temperatures were taken on two occasions 

 only:— 

 February 26th, 12.30 p.m. Over egg chamber . . 85° Fahr. 



February 26th, 12.30 p.m. In sun 70° Fahr. 



March 8th, 2 p.m. Egg chamber 93° Fahr. 



March 8th, 2 p.m. In sun 118° Fahr. 



March 8th, 2 p.m. One inch under surface .... 124° Fahr. 

 March 8th, 2 p.m. Six inches under surface .... 117° Fahr. 



Chicks were hatching under these conditions. 



About the last week in March, 1917, the birds ceased 

 working on the mound. April 20th, the birds showed indi- 

 tions of opening up the mound. Going to their assistance, I 

 removed ten sound eggs and one broken one. Ten eggs had 

 been removed from the mound during the season for various 

 reasons. Seven hatched out. 



It is interesting to note that on opening the mound on 

 February 16th, I broke the egg numbered 16; taking the top 

 clean off, but the membrane was not injured, I repaired the 

 egg by using the shell of a common hen's egg for the purpose, 

 using a strip of paper to keep it in position. It was very 

 gratifying to see the chick from this egg on the surface the 

 following day. 



Birds were observed on April 21st to be filling in the pit 

 fwith all available material, such as decayed wood, sticks, etc. 

 In the evening I emptied a large bag of gum leaves into the 

 aviary. Nearly all the material was placed in the pit by 

 eight o'clock next morning. Notice was taken of the fact 

 that the bed of the new pit was being placed above the old 

 one. Last season the old material was thrown out, and later 

 on incorporated with the new, this will bring the floor of the 

 egg chamber still higher above ground level, and should make 

 it drier and warmer. 



The following are the incubation notes for this season, 

 1916-17, each egg being numbered as laid :■ — 



No of eggs Date laid Date of hatching Period of 



incubation. 



August 15 " 



_L AUgUBL li» 



2 August 21 



3 August 29 l eggs removed 



4 September 3 



5 September 9 . 



6 September 15 



7 September 19 



