NESTING OF TALEGALLA 
Phasianide. But the differences which distinguish all 
the pheasants, Gallus bankivi, the origin of the domestic 
fowl, turkeys, partr-dges, and grouse, are but small. 
THE Mounp-BuILDER. 
With a perversity which characterized some of the 
earlier ornithologists, the Australian mound-builder 
(Lalegalla lathamt) was regarded as a vulture; and it 
was not until Sir Richard Owen explained its anatomy 
to the Zoological Society in the “ forties’ that its true 
place among the gallinaceous birds was fully established. 
And yet no bird bears upon it the outward marks of a 
“scratcher ’’ more plainly than does Talegalla. ‘‘ Brush 
Turkey ” is so obv:ously more suitable as an appellation 
than ‘‘ New Holland vulture,” even to the least expert 
of bird observers, that one can have no pity for the 
stupidity which confused its relations with other mem- 
bers of the bird world. Its strutting and scratching 
alone betray it. In appearance the brush turkey or 
mound builder is not conspicuous, sooty brown being 
the main element in its colouring. It is rather from 
what it does than what it is that this bird is worthy of 
our attention. As a rule, there are examples at the 
Zoo: and also as a rule they construct their huge 
mounds of dead leaves and rubbish in which to place 
their eggs. Unlike the bird tribe generally, this fowl 
lays its eggs in common in such a heap, and leaves them 
to be hatched by the heat of the sun, aided no doubt 
by heat-producing fermentation within the mass. “ Sic 
vos non vobis nidificatis aves’’ might well be said of 
this bird. For its nest is merely a nursery and no 
dwelling-house for the assiduous parents. It is a 
nursery, too, more on the lines of a créche; for many 
families live together in one mound and leave their 
common home almost as soon as they are hatched ; 
for in accordance with the “ reptilian’ mode of leaving 
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