172 Lloyd's natural history. 



It is semi-nocturnal in its habits, making a loud wailing cry, 

 which is often heard at night and about daybreak." 



vn. THE astrolabe ray megapode. megapodius 



BRUNNEIVENTRIS. 



Megapodius briinneivejifris, Meyer, Abh. Zool. Mus. Dresd. 

 1890-91, No. 4, p. 15 (1892) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. xxii. p. 452 (1893). 



Adult. — Said to resemble M. forsfeni, but with the belly 

 brown. 1 have had no opportunity of examining the typical 

 example of this species, but it seems probable that it may 

 prove to be merely an immature example of Forsten's Mega- 

 pode. 



Eange. — Astrolabe Bay, North-east New Guinea. 



VIIL BRENCHLEY's megapode. MEGAPODIUS EREMITA. 



Megapodius eremita^ Hartlaub, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 830; Sclater, 

 Voy. Challenger, p. 32, pi. xi. (1880); Studer, in Fors- 

 chungsreise, S. M. S. " Gazelle," iii. p. 253, pi. xii. (1889) ; 

 Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 452 (1893). 

 Megapodius breuchkyi^ Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (4) v. p. 328 

 (1870); id. Cruise "Cura5oa,"p. 392, pi. 20 (1873); Sharpe, 

 in Gould's B. New Guin. pt.xxii. pi. xi. (18S6). 

 Megapodius hueskeri^ Cab. and Reichenow, J. f. O. 1876. p. 



326. 

 Megapodius ruhrifrons^ Sclater, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 556. 



Adult Male and Female. — Forehead naked, with the exception 

 of a few minute plumes ; mantle dark grej', contrasting with 

 the olive-brown head and upper-parts ; lower back washed 

 with dark chestnut ; under-parts dark grey, browner on the 

 belly and thighs. Legs b/aek, or dark olive. Total length, 15 

 inches; wing, 8-8-9-2 ; tail, 2*5-3; tarsus, 2-6-2-8. 



Range — Admiralty Islands, New Hanover, New Ireland, 

 Duke of York Island, New Britain and the Solomon Islands. 



