22 
Habits of 
depressing at will. This appendage is common to both 
sexes, although it is much more developed in the male 
than in the female. The legs and feet are strong, and 
well formed for scratching. The tarsi are not furnished 
with spurs. The bony structure, particularly the sternum, 
strictly resembles that of the typical Gallinacea; the 
gizzard is extremely strong and muscular. On dissecting 
this bird, I found the organ in question filled with seeds 
and berries. The flesh is white, and excellent eating. 
In disposition these birds are shy and wary, dwelling 
in the thickest and most scrubby brushes; eluding 
pursuit rather by swiftness of foot than by their powers 
of flight, which are limited: when hard pressed, they 
spring into a tree, and, by a succession of leaps “ up¬ 
wards” from branch to branch, soon attain a sufficient 
elevation to enable them to fly off to a place of greater 
security. 
But the-most singular part of the history of this bird 
is its mode of nidification. Early in the spring, in the 
most secluded spots, it commences forming a large heap, 
by scratching together all the loose herbage, sticks, and 
leaves, for a considerable distance round; and this it 
continues to do until the heap has attained a very consi¬ 
derable size: some that I have myself measured being 
more than 30 feet round, and from 3 to 4 feet in height. 
The form of this mound is conical; and this mass is brought 
together, not by the bill of the jjird, but entirely by the 
feet—the bird walking to a distance from the site of the 
mound, and scratching and throwing backwards every 
thing that comes in its way; in the performance of which 
it gives such a cleanly-swept appearance to the ground, 
as to cause its own destruction, or the loss of its eo-irs 
oo 1 
by attracting the observation of the blacks, who eagerly 
seek after them for the purpose of eating. It must be 
understood that this bird docs not sit upon or hatch its 
