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 flesh is particu- 
larly excellent, and there are hopes that this fine 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, 
BRUSH TURKEY ’.— Talegattus 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 
