370 . THE CRESTED CURASSOW. 
In their native country the Curassows build among the trees, making a 
large and rather clumsy-.ooking nest of sticks, grass stems, leaves, and grass 
blades. There are generally six or seven eggs, not unlike those of the fowl, 
but larger and thicker shelled. 
The colour of the Crested Curassow is very dark violet, with a purplish 
green gloss above and on the breast, and the abdomen is the purest snowy 
white, contrasting beautifully with the dark velvety plumage of the upper 
parts. The bright golden yellow of the crest adds in no small degree to the 
beauty of the bird 
CRESTED CURASSOW.—(Crax Alector.) 
SEVERAL very singular birds are found in Australia and New Guinea, called 
by the name of Megapodine, or Great-footed birds, on account of 
the very large size of their feet ; a provision of nature which is necessary 
for their very: peculiar mode of laying their eggs and hatching their 
oung. 
: The first of these birds is the AUSTRALIAN JUNGLE FOWL, which is found 
in several parts of Australia, but especially about Port Essington. In that 
country great numbers of high and large mounds of earth exist, which were 
