Page:DawsonOrnithologicalMiscVol1.djvu/49

Rh man spinning a dozen yards, following up the same if the unlucky intruder should be able to get on his pins again; if not, the bird hammers him on the ground. Only a week ago a man near Capetown got a kick in the back which dislocated his shoulder. To show how little they care about being found out, a few days ago I was visiting a pair of birds that were sitting: there had been some heavy rain; and, to my surprise, both birds were away from the nest. Thinking there was something wrong, I went to the nest, having previously given the cock bird a good feed of Indian corn at a distance to keep him employed. The nest was full of water, and the eggs were stuck fast in the mud. I had just taken them out when the cock perceived me, and came down the field thirty miles an hour, giving me just time to dive into the hedge, where I remained until he thought of his food again and went off; the hen then came down, and the cock seemed satisfied that she would look after the business, and took little or no notice of my scooping out the mud and water with my hands as best I could. The hen seemed much interested in the proceedings, and when I had replaced the eggs she at once sat upon them; and the pair have been sitting alternately ever since. — Oakhurst, George, Cape-colony." It was thought a curious thing at first that the male Ostrich should incubate; but I suspect it is more common for cocks to do so than is supposed. I was much amused (May 6, 1869) while observing a female Melizophilus dartfordiensis which had left her nest containing eggs. The cock bird did not like this neglect of duty; and he drove her back again, after some trouble; for she was not obedient. If he does not sit, he has the control.

Dr. Buller remarks, in his 'Birds of New Zealand,' speaking of Apteryx mantelli (p. 362):—"While hunting for its food the bird makes a continual sniffing sound through the nostrils, which are placed at the extremity of the upper mandible. Whether it is guided as much by touch as by smell I cannot safely say; but it appears to me that both senses are called into action. That the sense of touch is highly developed seems quite certain, because the bird, although it may not be audibly sniffing, will always first