174 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. * 



specimens (about forty) I got, there was not a single male bird ; 

 they were all females." 



Eggs. — Like those of M. 7iicobarie7isis^ pale cinnamon colour. 

 Average measurements, 3 by 1*9 inches. 



IX. macgillivray's megapode. megapodius macgilli- 



VRAYI. 



Megapodius macgillivrayi^ Gray, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 289; 1864, 

 p. 43; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 460, pi. xliii.; Ogilvie-Grant, 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 453 (1893). 



Adult Male and Female. — Much like M. eremita in general ap- 

 pearance, but easily distinguished by the colour of the legs, 

 which are orange-red ; the feathers on the crown and back of 

 the head are rather long, and form a short thick crest ; flanks 

 blackish-grey. Total length, 13-5 inches; wing, 8-5-8'9 ; tail, 

 3-3-2; tarsus, 2-3-27. 



Range. — Louisiade Archipelago, extending to the shores of 

 Huon Gulf and the Astrolabe Mountains. 



Habits. — Mr. J. Macgillivray, the original discoverer of this 

 Megapode, w-rites as follows : — " In habits this bird resembles 

 the Australian species, especially in constructing enormous 

 mounds for the reception of its eggs. Those which I saw 

 averaged five feet in height and fifteen in diameter, and were 

 composed of the sandy soil of the neighbourhood, mixed up 

 with rotten sticks and leaves, but without any shells or coral. 

 Some \vere placed on the outer margin of the thickets close to 

 the beach, and others w^re scattered about more inland. As 

 several of these mounds showed indications of having lately 

 bjen opened by the birds, I entertained hopes of being able 

 to procure an egg, but after digging several pits three feet in 

 depth, with no more efficient implements than my hands, I 

 had to give up the work from sheer exhaustion. This bird is 

 apparently very pugnacious at times, as I frequently saw them 

 chasing each other along the ground, running with great swift- 



