ing bird,
and will reproduce the notes of all its forest companions, but it is
very shy and difficult to get at, and unless it is got when very young
it cannot be domesticated.

"We have wild turkeys here," continued their informant; "and they are
very good eating; perhaps some of our party will be fortunate enough to
bring down a turkey or two before we go back. There is one fowl here
called the mallee bird, about the size of the pheasant, and resembling
him in many ways. He generally lives near the edge of the mallee scrub,
and his flesh is very much esteemed by all who have eaten it. The mallee
is a gregarious bird, and at the breeding season large numbers of them
come together. They collect great heaps of dry leaves, among which a
number of hen birds lay their eggs, indiscriminately taking care to
cover them up warmly.

"They don't take any trouble to hatch their eggs, but leave that for the
heat of the dry and decaying vegetable matter. When the time approaches
for the chicks to break the shell, the male birds hover about on the
watch for their appearance, and snakes, also, like to come around, in
the hopes of securing a few of the tender birds as they emerge into
daylight. When the chick comes out from the egg, his skin is pink and
bare, and hardly a sign of a feather is visible; but within twenty-four
hours, during which the feathers spread so rapidly that you can almost
see their growth, the bird is fully fledged and feathered, and able to
take care of itself."

An amusing circumstance happened during the day's excursion. Ned was
the victim of it, and he did not consider it at all amusing until after
it was all over. This was the way of it:--

While the party was halted at one time, discussing where next they would
go, the dogs disturbed something, but neither of our young friends could
make out what it was. They were in the open country at the time, though
not far from the edge of the bush. The something that the dogs had
disturbed came directly towards the party, and Ned happened to be nearer
to it than anybody else. The creature looked like a small alligator, and
that's what Ned and Harry thought it was. Ned had dismounted from his
horse and was standing by the animal's head, waiting for the decision
about their movements. The animal came directly up to Ned and climbed up
his side. It was about five feet long, and a very formidable-looking
creature. The youth immediately began fighting the animal, and sho