

MALLEE HEN: 49 
layer. The whole dre then covered with sand to the depth of 4 or 
5 inches, which is allowed to remain, and the second layer is com- 
menced, The birds lay about twice a week; thus a long time 
intervenes between the laying of the first egg and the last, and 
consequently eggs in all stages, from fresh laid to just on the point 
of hatching, and young birds, are to be found at the same time. 
During the period of hatching the parent birds, as a rule, visit 
the nest morning and evening every day. In the earlier stages this 
is done to repair the damages caused by native dogs and iguanas, 
which scratch at the nest in the hope of obtaining the coveted eggs 
or young, and also to repair the damage often caused by their more 
destructive biped foes. 
As the process of hatching progresses these visits have an 
additional motive—that of assisting any young bird out of the 
superincumbent mass by opening the nest; but this is not absolutely 
necessary, as the chicks can work upwards from the lower layer. 
They have been found in this position, and almost at the top. 
The egg is of large size, consequently the chick is large and 
possessed of considerable strength; and, on emerging from the shell, 
which is extremely fragile, its natural instincts prompt it to struggle 
for air and light. Its struggles displace the sand, which runs down 
beneath the bird, and thus gradually it gets higher and higher. 
When at last it reaches the summit of the mound, it is a fully- 
developed bird, able to fly, run, and take care of itself, which it has 
to do, for the old bird now totally ignores its presence. This bird 
leads a solitary life, except at the period of mound-raising. It is 
very rare that two are seen together. The mounds are of great 
size; one measured 37 feet in circumference. 
Its note, not often uttered, is a most mournful sound, some- 
thing like that of the bronzewing pigeon, but much louder, and each 
note more prolonged. 
Food.—The food of the mallee heu consists of insects, the seeds 
and berries of various shrubs, and the tender shoots of plants. In 
its wild state it is entirely independent of water, but will sometimes 
_drink when domesticated. 
Where found.—New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, 
west and south-west Australia, This singular bird, as its trivial 
Name implies, is an inhabitant of the arid mallee scrubs that clothe 
a large area of the western portion of New South Wales, and even 
larger extents of some of the adjoining colonies. 

Brown Snake—Diemenia superciliosa. 
Description.—This is one of the largest of the poisonous and 
dangerous snakes. It belongs to the sub-kingdom vertebrata, class 
reptilia, order ophidia, family eiapide, genus diemenia. The body 
ls moderately stout and cylindrical; the head is subquadrate, and 
the muzzle blunt. The head only moderately exceeds the width of 
the neck. It is flat above. The sides are nearly vertical, and con- 
Verge to a narrow, rounded, blunt muzzle. In the upper jaw, 

