it varies in size from two to four cart-loads^ and is of a perfectly pyramidal form. The construction of the 
mound is not the work of one pair of birds, but is effected by the united labours of several ; the same site 
appears to me, from the great size and the entire decomposition of the lower part; to be resorted to for several 
years in succession, the birds adding a fresh supply of materials on each occasion previous to laying. 
The mode in which the materials composing these mounds are accumulated is equally singular, — the bird 
never using its bill, hut always grasping a quantity in its foot, throwing it backwards 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 accumulated, and time allowed for a sufficient heat to be engendered, 
the eggs are deposited, not side by side, as is ordinarily 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 
informed both by natives and settlers living near their haunts, that it is not an unusual event to obtain nearly 
a bushel of eggs at one time from a single heap ; and as they are delicious eating, they are eagerly sought 
after. Some of the natives state that the females are constantly in the neighbourhood of the heap about the 
time the young are likely to be hatched, and frequently uncover and cover them up again, apparently for the 
purpose of assisting those that may have appeared ; while others have informed me that the eggs are merely 
deposited, and the young allowed to force their way unassisted. In all probability, as Nature has adopted this 
mode of reproduction, she has also furnished the tender birds with the power of sustaining themselves 
from the earliest period ; and the great size of the egg would equally lead to this conclusion, since in so 
large a space it is reasonable to suppose that the bird would be much more developed than is usually found 
in eggs of smaller dimensions. In further confirmation of this point, I may add, that in searching for eggs 
in one of the mounds I discovered the remains of a young bird, apparently just excluded from the shell, and 
which was clothed with feathers, not with down, as is usually the case : it is to he hoped that those who are 
resident in Australia, in situations favourable for investigating the subject, will direct their attention to the 
further elucidation of these interesting points. The upright position of the eggs tends to strengthen the 
opinion that they are never disturbed after being deposited, as it is well known that the eggs of birds which 
are placed horizontally, are frequently turned during incubation. Although, unfortunately, I was almost too 
late for the breeding-season, I nevertheless saw several of the heaps, both in the interior and at Illawarra; 
in every instance they were placed in the most retired and shady glens, and on the slope of a hill, the part 
above the nest being scratched clean, while all below remained untouched, as if the birds had found it more 
easy to convey the materials down than to throw them up. In one instance only was I fortunate enough to 
find a perfect egg, although the shells of many from which the young had been excluded were placed in the 
manner I have described. At Illawarra they were rather deposited in the light vegetable mould than 
among the leaves which formed a considerable heap above them. The eggs are perfectly white, of a long oval 
form, three inches and three-quarters long by two inches and a half in diameter : a fine egg of this bird 
was subsequently presented to me by J. H. Plunkett, Esq., Attorney-General, New South Wales. 
While stalking about the wood they frequently utter a rather loud clucking noise ; and in various parts of 
the brush I observed depressions in the earth, which the natives informed me were made by the birds in 
dusting themselves. 
The stomach is extremely muscular, and the crop of one dissected was filled with seeds, berries, and 
a few insects. 
I have already alluded to its capability for domestication ; and I have the gratification of adding, that a 
living specimen was in the possession of Mr. Alexander MacLeay for several years, during which it was 
mostly at large, and usually associated with the fowls in the poultry-yard. On my arrival at Sydney this 
venerable gentleman took me into his garden and showed me the bird, which, as if in its native woods, 
had for two successive years collected an immense mass of materials similar to those above described. 
The borders, lawn and shrubbery over which it was allowed to range presented an appearance as if regularly 
swept, from the bird having scratched to one common centre everything that lay upon the surface ; the 
mound in this case was about three feet and a half high, and ten feet over. On placing my arm in it 
I found the heat to be about 90° or 95° Fahr. The bird itself was strutting about with a proud and ma- 
jestic air, sometimes parading round the heap, at others perching on the top, and displaying its brilliantly 
coloured neck and wattle to the greatest advantage ; this wattle it has the power of expanding and contract- 
ing at will ; at one moment it is scarcely visible, while at another it is extremely prominent. 
Before I left New South Wales Mr. MacLeay’s bird had met with an untimely end by falling into a tank or 
water-butt, occasioned, it was conjectured, by seeing the reflection of its own image in the water, and rushing 
forward to meet a supposed antagonist. On dissection this individual was found to be a male, thereby 
proving that the sexes are equally employed in forming the mound for the reeeption of the eggs. 
After all the facts that have been stated, I trust it will be evident that its natural situation is among the 
Rasores, and that it forms one of a great family of birds peculiar to Australia and the Indian islands, of 
which Megapodius forms a part ; and in confirmation of this view I may add, that the sternum has the two 
deep emarglnations so truly characteristic of the Gallinacecs ; at all events, it is in no way allied to the 
VulturidcB, and is nearly as far removed from Menura. 
The adults have the whole of the upper surface, wings and tail blackish brown ; the feathers of the 
under surface blackish brown at the base, becoming silvery grey at the tip ; skin of the head and neck deep 
pink red, thinly sprinkled with short hair-like blackish brown feathers ; wattle bright yellow, tinged with 
red where it unites with the red of the neck ; bill black ; irides and feet brown. 
The female, which is about a fourth less than the male in size, is so closely the same in colour as to 
render a separate description unnecessary. She also possesses the wattle, but not to so great an extent. 
The figure is about two-thirds the size of life. 
