Vol. XI X.J Shufeldt, Material for a Study of the Megapodiido! . 107 



Material for a Study of the Mega pod iidae. 



By M.vjok R. W. Shufeldt M.l)., C.M.Z.S., llo.v. Memb. 

 R.A.O.U., Washington, D.C, U.S.A. 



Part II. 



Eggs of the Megapodiid.e. 



(Platrs VIII.^X., Figs. 12-19.) 



Apparently l)ut few (\i;gs of the Mcgapodcs haYc bcx'ii figured in 



scientific works, and these few are so well known to ornithologists 



tliat it will not be necessary to cite them in this place. 



When I undertook the present work it was my hope that I might 

 examine all the eggs of this family contained in the collections of 

 the United States National Museum and of Mr. Edward J. Court, 

 of Washington, D.C. Much to my pleasure, I was successful in 

 both of these desires, and I am indebted to Mr. J. H. Riley, of 

 the Division of Birds of the United States National Museum, for 

 assistance in this matter, and to Mr. Court for the loan of his 

 entire collection of Megapode eggs for the purpose of d(>scription 

 and photography. 



Through the kindness of Dr. Richmond, I was permitted to 

 borrow three eggs from the collection of the United States National 

 Museum for the latter purpose, and these are here shown on 

 Plate VIII. of the present paper.* These three eggs were one each 

 of Megapodius pritchardi (No. 33,063), Megapodiiis citmingi (No. 

 29,908), and one of Megapodius nicobariensis (No. 29,604) ; that of 

 M. pritchardi (size 72.7 x 44.2 mm.) is typically ellipsoidal in form, 

 with rather blunt ends, while in colour it is of a vinaceous buff, 

 of a somewhat deep shade, the vinaceous colour being sHghtly 

 deeper in large, blotchy areas over the whole egg. These areas 

 run into each other on the somewhat roughened surface. 



With respect to the egg of M. citmingi, the form is as in the last, 

 while the colour is rather darker. Its shell is rough, with little 

 flecks of roughness over the entire surface (size 78.8 x 48.0 mm.) 



In the case of the egg of M. nicobariensis shown in Plate VIII. 

 (No. 29,604), it measures 80.6 x 50.6, and has a form nearly like 

 that of M . pritchardi described above, though in this particular 

 egg of the Nicobar Megapode one end is not quite as blunt as the 

 other. In colour it about agrees with it, as does its rough shell. 

 It exhibits some slight adventitious staining and scratches (see 

 Plate VIII., fig. 14). 



* With respect to the photographs of the eggs in my plates, I would say 

 that I employed Japanese tints to colour them, and, in some few instances, 

 while the colour is correct, the shade may be somewhat too dark. This 

 defect is due to the grey of the photograph showing through the colour 

 applied, and not to the beautiful tints I employed, which are manufactured 

 by the Japanese Water Colour Company. Should an egg be perfectly white 

 or of some very light shade, it is a difficult subject for the photographer to 

 handle, for, in obtaining a background in the print, the egg itself will carry 

 some tint of more or less strength, and it is this tint which affects the colour- 

 applied. However this may be, the form and size of the eggs in the plates 

 to this paper may be relied upon. 



