MEGAPODIID.B. 15 



are of a brifi;ht g^reen and two of a yellowish-green colour, with 

 numerous white chalky specks. Thej' measure respectively : 2'15 

 by 1-55; 1-97 by l-4o ; 2-22 by 1-5 ; 2-2 by l-o. 



4. Central Chili (Z. Landbeck). Berkeley James Coll. 



Order GALLIFORMES. 



Sub-Order MEGAPODIL 

 Family MEGAPODIID^. 



The eggs of the Megapodes are usually lengthened and narrow. 

 They are either elliptical or biconical or, occasionally, of a regular 

 oval form. 



The shell is thin and brittle, rough to the touch, covered with 

 minute pores and glossless. 



The shell itself appears to be always white, but it is almost 

 invariablj' covered by a thin calcareous film, which, however, is easily 

 removed and is of a coffee-brown, reddish-brown or pink colour. 



It is well-known that the Megapodes deposit their eggs in mounds 

 of earth and vegetable matter. During the time that the eggs lie 

 buried in these mounds they undergo considerable changes, and 

 when discovered they seldom exhibit their original colour. 



The eggs of the Megapodes are remarkably large when compared 

 with the size of the bird. 



Genus MEGAPODITJS, Q. ^ G. 



Megapodius nicobariensis, Blyth. 



Megapodius nicobariensis, Hume Hr JSIarnh. Game Birds Ind. iii. App. 

 pi. ii. (1880) ; Hume, Nests ^- Egys, 2ud ed. iii. p. 449 (1890); 

 Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 447 (lb93); Oates, Game Birds 

 Ind. i. p. 384 (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 12 (1899). 



The eggs of the Nicobar Megapode when first laid are of a ruddy- 

 pink colour. After being buried, they turn to pale yellowish-brown, 

 buff or stone-colour. The outer film frecjuently flakes off in spots, 

 specks and large blotches, causing the shell to be mottled with white. 

 The eggs measure from 3 to [V-i in length, and from 1'9 to 2"2o in 

 breadth. 



4. Trinliut Island. Nicobars, 21st Feb. Hume Coll. 



1 . Trinluit Island, 23rd Feb. Hume Coll. 



o. Trinkut Island, 1st March. Hume Coll. 



