460 



THE BRUSH TURKEY. 



insects of various kinds have been found in its stomach, which is exceedingly muscular. Like 

 other gallinaceous birds, it is fond of dusting itself, and as it loves to resort to the same spot, 

 it scrapes considerable depressions in the earth, which lead the practised hunter to its resi- 

 dence. The voice of the Brush Turkey is a rather loud clucking sound. Its liesh is particu- 

 larly excellent, and there are hopes that this tine bird may also be in time added to the list of 

 domesticated poultry. 



The egg mound — for it cannot rightly be called a nest — of this bird is extremely large, 



'^v . : ... n^A 



BRUSH TURKEY.— Tal, yallu* lathami. 



containing, according to Mr. Gould, several cartloads of materials, and being formed into a 

 conical or somewhat pyramidal shape. It is not made by a single pair of birds, but is the result 

 of united labor, and is used from year to year, fresh materials being supplied each season in 

 order to make up the deficiency caused by the decomposition of the vegetable matter below. 

 Mr. Gould, to whom we are indebted for the greatest part of our knowledge respecting these 

 curious birds, gives the following account of the nidification of the Brush Turkey : — 



" The mode in which the materials composing these mounds are accumulated is very singu- 

 lar, the bird never using its bill, but always grasping a quantity in its foot, throwing it back- 

 wards to one common centre, and thus clearing the surface of the ground for a considerable 

 distance so completely that scarcely a leaf or a blade of grass is left. The heap being accumu- 

 lated, and time allowed for a sufficient heat to be engendered, the eggs are deposited, not side 

 by side as is usually the case, but planted at the distance of nine or twelve inches from each 

 other, and buried at nearly an arm's depth, perfectly upright, with the large end upwards ; they 

 are covered up as they are laid, and allowed to remain until hatched. I have been credibly 



