THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
in tolcrabl© numbers as far south as the Pioneer River. They are strictly 
confined to the dense scrubs, and seldom, if ever, seen elsewhere. Their 
noisy cackling at night frequently disturbed us when encamped near one of 
their favourite resorts ; and during the day their hoarse note at once betrays 
their presence. On the Herbert River they are not much sought after 
as an article of food, either by the natives or whites ; for as their eggs are 
esteemed a delicacy the birds themselves are not much molested. I examined 
several nests in March ; and although it was not the regular breeding-season, 
yet fresh eggs were obtained, and newly-hatched young were found singly 
here and there throughout the denser part of the brushes. Some of the mounds 
were very ruthlessly destroyed by the whites, and scattered over the ground. 
This, however, did not cause the birds to forsake the place ; and out of one 
large mound which had been very roughly handled, two new ones were 
formed, about 10 yards apart, on the base of the old one, which was so matted 
and interlaced with roots from the neighbouring trees that it appeared to me 
a marvel how the birds could burrow into it the great length they did ; and 
having once laid their eggs there, however the young birds found their way out 
through the maze of roots is still a mystery. Once out, however, and their 
wings dry, they are able to take care of themselves, but remain about the 
mounds for a day or so, as if waiting for some of their companions ; but in less 
than a week from the day they are hatched they may frequently be seen at 
least a quarter of a mile away, and well able to fly about. I met 
one little fellow, only 5.5 inches in total length, fully a mile away from the 
nearest mound ; he flew up and settled in a tree, about 20 feet from the 
ground. The wings and feet were remarkably developed for so small a bird, 
which could scarcely be more than four weeks old. Upon more than one 
occasion I have seen the birds busy at their mound, or feeding near it, but 
was never so fortunate as to meet with them in the act of burrowing. The 
largest mound I met with was about 50 feet in length, 10 in height, and 14 feet 
in width at the base, 8 or 10 on the summit. It seemed to be more like several 
mounds combined ; and certainly more than two pairs of birds frequented 
it. While stationed, gun in hand, watching for Cassowaries \Casuarius 
australis\ I noticed on one occasion five birds arrive at this mound in 
company ; they came very close to me, making a chuckhng noise jerked out 
from their throat, and not unHke that of a domestic fowl when driven from 
its nest, but not so loud. Usually only a pair are met with together. Their 
flight is heavy ; and they do not readily take wing, unless pursued by a dog, 
when they rise with a considerable flapping to the most convenient branch, 
where they are easily approached and shot. Their flesh is dark, rank, and 
tough.”* 
* Ramsay, P.Z.S., p. 118 (1876). 
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