THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fourth Series .— Vol. XII.—No. 8.—All rights reserved. AUGUST, 1934.



BRUSH-TURKEYS


The Mound-builders of Australia and islands in the vicinity are

some of the most interesting of birds, especially as regards their

breeding habits, which have frequently been described. The species

best known is the Brush-turkey (Catheturus lathami) of Queensland

and New South Wales, which not only thrives in this country, but

breeds under suitable conditions. On several occasions, in the

London Zoological Gardens, young have been successfully reared,

but at Whipsnade the conditions are more natural and success

should be more certain. A pair kept there in the Wood Lawn Bird

Sanctuary have already produced young this year, so a short account

of their behaviour may be of interest. As is well-known, the cock

bird alone constructs the mound, which he forms by scratching

leaves, grass, and sticks from a considerable area to his chosen site,

which is always in the partial shade of some tree or bush. He

commences early in the spring and continues working during the

daylight hours all the spring and early summer. Commencing at

some distance from his mound, he continues to throw the material

backwards with his powerful feet, until by degrees a large pile

is formed. It has been stated that several hens deposit their eggs

in the one mound, but from our experience I should say that this

is a mistake. However large the enclosure, it is useless to attempt



15



