402 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
a remarkable manner, by collecting together an immense heap of decaying vegetable matter to act as a 
depository for the eggs, the heat engendered by the process of decomposition acting effectually in the 
incubation and hatching of the eggs. The heap is constructed by the united labours of a number of birds, 
and are of a perfectly pyramidal form. The heap being accumulated, and time being allowed for sufficient 
heat to generate, the eggs are deposited at distances of about a foot from each other, being buried at a depth 
of from two to three feet, with the large end upwards, and in a perfectly upright condition ; they are covered 
up as laid, and allowed to remain until hatched. 
The Wild Australian Bustard, or, as it is more commonly known, the " Plain Turkey," is at once, for 
size and delicacy of flavour, right in the front rank of the edible birds of Australia. It is found throughout 
the whole Continent in favourable situations, such as the vast plains and open forest country. One 
peculiarity of this variety is that, with the exception of the breeding season, which, as a rule, extends from 
July to November, the sexes do not congregate together ; ether than at the times mentioned, the males and 
the females are to be found in separate flocks of from two or three up to even a hundred head. On the 
inland plains they are difficult to approach, being extremely shy and wary, and it is a rarity indeed for the 
sportsman, if on foot, to get within shooting range 
They, however, are easily stalked with the aid of a horse and covered vehicle, as a rule taking little 
notice of such. The cock bird generally attains a good size, specimens having been shot which weighed 
nearly 30 lbs., but this is rather above the average size, the majority of adult cocks weighing from 22 to 
25 lbs. The hens are very much smaller, a well-grown adult hen rarely reaching 17 lbs. in weight, and more 
often 13 or 14 lbs. 
The hen lays her eggs, generally two in number, on the bare ground, without the slighest shelter from 
either wind, sun, or rain. The colour of the eggs varies from a pale olive-green to a rich olive-brown ground 
colour, spotted with irregular markings of a deeper colour, though at times eggs are found of a pale blue tint, 
with just a few streaks or spots of pale brown. The shell is very smooth and glossy, and an average-sized 
egg measures about 3 inches in length by about 2J inches in diameter. 
The cock during the breeding season is continually " showing himself off," standing on a tuft, or some 
slight eminence. On the plain he stands erect, with the head carried high, the loose skin of the throat and 
neck extended to a marvellous degree, the tail fully expanded, and almost resting horizontally on the back, 
the wings dropped down on to the ground, and the feathers on the loose skin of the neck swinging from side 
to side, and almost touching the ground. He wheels and struts majestically about, courting his mate. Often 
the female will be found sitting on her eggs out on the bare plain, without a vestige of herbage surrounding 
her. When the young poults are hatched, they are dependent upon the adult birds for some time, although 
well able to run about the nesting place. The eggs and young birds are destroyed in vast numbers yearly 
by the ravages of native dogs, in addition to which, numbers of eggs are taken annually by the settlers and 
others. The young have a peculiar manner of secreting themstlves on the approach of danger. This they 
do by lying perfectly flat on the ground, with their necks stretched out, remaining perfectly motionless until 
discovered, or all fear of danger has passed. The colour of their downy plumage, assimilating closely with 
the parched ground and scanty herbage found in their habitat also assists greatly in their escaping detection. 
The food of the Plain Turkey is very varied, consisting of insects and their larvje, the berries and seeds of 
various plants, molluscs, small reptiles, field mice, and occasionally the young of small birds, and on dissection, 
the stomachs of birds shot during the summer months have been found packed with locusts and grasshoppers, 
mixed with sand. 
The male and female are similar in plumage, the bill being of good length, rather fine, and pale yellow 
in colour, with a brown ridge along the top of the upper mandible. The crown of the head is surmounted 
by black feathers, which extend into lengthened plumes on the back of the head. The sides of the face, 
throat, and neck are of a dull white colour, finely freckled with brown, the markings being more pronounced 
on the lower part of the throat and back of the neck, forming pencillings. The whole of the back and tail 
is of a blackish-brown ground colour, finely pencilled all over with irregular markings of a lighter brown. 
