Vol. XIX 



1919 



1 SnuFEi.DT, Material foy a S/udy of the Megapodiidcc. I0(j 



In inillimcters and tenths, these eggs measure as follows : — 

 (1)78.3x51.0. (8) 80.8x47.5. 



(2) 85.6 X 50.4. (9) 80.9 X 52.5. 



(3) 81.5 X 49.4. (10) 79.3 X 50.3. 



(4) 79.3 X 50.7. (II) 80.1 X 49.6. 



(5) 79.2 X 50.0. (12) 78.2 X 49.5. 



(6) 80.6 X 52.5. (13) 84.1 X 50.0. 



(7) 81.4x51.0. 



I'Or these thirteen eggs, then, of Mcgapodiiis nicobanoisis \vc 

 have an average in the matter of size of 80.0 x 50.0 millimeters. 

 Unfortunately, though quite naturally, Mr. Ogilvic-Grant, in his 

 admirable work in the " Catalogue of Birds' Eggs in the British 

 Museum " (vol. i.), gix-cs the measurements for eggs in inches 

 and fractions thereof, instead of using the metric system of 

 measurements now so generally employed in science. He says : — 

 " 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 frequently 

 flakes off in spots, specks, and large blotches, causing the shell 

 to be mottled with white. The eggs measure from 3.0 to 3.4 in 

 length, and from 1.9 to 2.25 in breadth " (p. 15). 



Mr. Court has no eggs on this date (28th August, 1914) of M. 

 nicobariensis in his collection, nor of M. cumingi. 



Of the eggs of this latter species, already touched upon above, 

 Mr. Ogilvie-Grant says {loc. cit., p. 16) : — " The eggs of Cuming's 

 Megapode are of a ruddy pink or reddish-brown colour, turning 

 to pale brown with incubation ; two specimens in the collection, 

 however, are dull white. They measure from 2.c) to 3.3 in length, 

 and from 1.8 to 2.0 in breadth." 



The National Museum collection contains Init one egg of 

 Duperrey's Megapode {Megapodiiis tumulus) (No. 30,339, 28th 

 August, 1914) ; it is of a dark tan colour, ellipsoidal in form, 

 measures 89.0 x 55.3, and was collected by Mr. Dudley Le Souef 

 in Australia. 



In Mr. Court's collection there arc but two eggs of this species, 

 and both of them closely resemble the last in respect to form 

 and colour, while they measure 84.8 x 52.0 and 87.9 x 52.9. 

 From these three eggs we would have an average, then, with 

 regard to size, of 87.2 x 53.4, which is larger than the egg of the 

 Nicobar Megapode. Ogilvie-Grant says of this species (loc. cit., 

 pp. lO, 17) that " the eggs of Duperrey's Megapode vary from 

 reddish-brown to pale buff or dull cream colour. They measure 

 from 3.2 to 4.0 in length, and from 2.05 to 2.2 in breadth." 



There are no eggs in the National Museum collection or in the 

 Court collection of either Brenchley's Megapode (Megapodius 

 eremata) or of Layard's Megapode [M . layardi), and therefore I 

 cannot say anything a1x)ut theni from a personal examination. 

 Descriptions of both are given in the " British Catalogue of Birds' 

 Eggs" by Mr. ()gilvie-(irant (pj). i() and 17). Thev ver\' much 



