S12 Birds. 
depth of six feet, in one of the largest mounds I had then 
seen. In this instance the holes ran down in an oblique 
direction from the centre towards the outer slope of the 
hillock, so that, although the eggs were six feet deep from 
the summit, they were only two or three feet from the 
side. The birds are said to lay but a single egg in each 
hole, and after the egg is deposited the earth is imme- 
diately thrown down lightly, until the hole is filled up ; 
the upper part of the mound is then smoothed and rounded 
over. It is easily known when a Jungle-fowl has been 
recently excavating, from the distinct impression of its 
feet on the top and sides of the mound, and from the earth 
being so lightly thrown over, that with a slender stick the 
direction of the hole may readily be detected ; the ease 
or difficulty of thrusting the stick down indicating the 
length of time that has elapsed since the birds' opera- 
tions. Thus far it is easy enough; but to reach the 
eggs requires no little exertion and perseverance. The 
natives dig them up with their hands alone, and only 
make sufficient room to admit their bodies, and to throw 
out the earth between their legs: by grubbing with 
their fingers alone, they are enabled to fellow the direc- 
tion of the hole with greater certainty, which will some- 
times, at a depth of several feet, .turn off abruptly at 
right angles, its direct course being obstructed by a 
clump of wood, or some other impediment." 
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 reason- 
able to suppose that the bird would be much more de- 
veloped than is usually found in eggs of smaller dimen- 
sions. The eggs are perfectly white, of a long, oval 
form, three inches and three quarters long by two inches 
and a half in diameter. 
There are several other Australian birds which adopt 
the same singular mode of hatching their eggs; one of 
these is called the Native Pheasant (Leipoa ocellata), and 
another the Brush Turkey (Talegalla Lathami). The 
latter has its head and neck covered with a naked skin, 
