BY J. BRAZIER, C.M.Z.S., ETC. 153 



observed, in the Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 42, that an egg (very similar 

 in every respect to those above referred to), had been brought 

 from San Christoval Island. As Gulf Island lies close to this 

 last mentioned island, it is therefore very probable that the 

 birds of these two islands may eventually prove to be of one and 

 the same species. Mr. Sclater has recorded that an egg of 

 a Megapode, which he has described, under the name of 

 Megapodius Brazieri, in the Proc. Zool. Soc, 1869, p. 528, has 

 been found and brought from Banks' Islands. Mr. Brenchley's 

 collection contains three specimens of eggs of a Megapode that 

 were obtained at Vanua Lava, two of which are similar in colour 

 and size to that described by Mr. Sclater ; but the third example 

 is a dirty white. Mr. Brenchley has a note in reference to them, 

 that they were found in the vicinity of the hot springs on the 

 mountains during the month of August 1865. The neighbouring 

 group of islands, the New Hebrides, is also the abode of a species 

 of Megapode ; and we are told by Captain M'Leod that they are 

 found abundantly, especially on Tanna and Sandwich Island. 

 Both these islands are also referred to by Mr. Brenchley, who 

 remarks that on the first mentioned island a large bird is spoken 

 of as living in the vicinity of the volcanoes ; while in the second 

 island eggs of a Megapode had been offered for sale. It may be 

 remarked that the mature state of the bird of both these 

 groups is at present unknown to Ornithologists." 



From this it will be seen that Mr. Eamsay was in the first 

 place incorrect, in stating that the egg to which Dr. Sclater gave 

 the named of Megapodius Brazieri, was found at Savo Island, 

 Solomon Group, when it was in reality found at Vanua Lava, or 

 Great Island of Banks' Group, some hundreds of miles distant. 

 He has also expressed his opinion of the probability of the 

 Megapodius Brenchleyi of Gray, being of the same species as M. 

 Brazieri. This is a mere vague surmise ; the two species may 

 possibly be identical, but there is not a shadow of pi'oof in support 

 of that view, and the probability is very great that M. Brenchleyi, 



