'oung. The two sexes have differenl calls, ami the female constantly utters her note when going 

 tbout in charge of the little ones. Even the aborigines seldom sec the birds, they are so wary. They 

 ■mm ai great speed, roosi in the tiers, ami can exist for a long time without water. 



Mr. Richard Schomburgk was of opinion that three <>r lour days elapsed between the laying 

 >f the eggs. Il<- also remarked thai the bottom of the cavity was sometimes sunk to a depth of 

 wenty four inches, the cavity being filled with Eucalyptus leaves, dm the top of, and surrounding 

 vhich, the mixture of sand and herbage was placed. An egg which he took out was hatched hv a 

 iommon hen, the young one appearing healthy and able to obtain its food at once. 



The diei of the Leipoa consists of insects and the seeds of shrubs. As in the Megapode, the 

 gizzard is very large and powerful. 



The eggs vary in colour from a light brown to a salmon-pink, and have the same thin loose 

 hell on the outside as those of the Megapode; they measure three inches and a half in length by 

 WO and a quarter in breadth, and are most fragile. Great care must be exercised in removing them 

 rom the mounds. The ends are almost the same shape, one being only slightly more pointed than 



lie other. 



Head and crest an' dark brown ; hack of the neck and shoulders, deep I due-grey : chest, 

 ►uff, grey at the edges, winch have circular markings of brown ; a line of lanceolate feathers, black, 

 uth ;i white streak down the middle of each, runs down the centre of the chest; abdomen, buff; 

 tack and wings, beautifully marked with white margin ami tips, and alternate bars of brown, black, 

 nd blue-grey : tail feathers, brown, tipped with buff and marked with black. 



Habitats: West Australia, South Australia, and the western parts of New South Wales. 



