tHE TRUE MEGAPODES. 17^ 



turbed it invariably flies to a tree, and on alighting stretches out 

 its head and neck in a straight line with its body, remain- 

 ing in this position as stationary and motionless as the branch 

 upon which it is perched ; if, however, it becomes fairly 

 alarmed, it takes a horizontal but laborious flight for about 

 a hundred yards, with its legs hanging down as if broken." 



Eggs. — Very large ; in shape, long perfect ovals ; pale coffee- 

 brown when newly laid, but after remaining in the mound a 

 few days they become darker. Average measurement, 3*55 by 

 21. 



XI. FREYCINET's MEGAPODE. MEGAPODIUS FREYCINETI. 



Megapodius freycifief, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. "Uranie," p. 125, 



pi. 32 (1824). 

 Megapodius freycineti, Temm. Pi. Col. v. pi. 45 [No. 220] 



(1825?); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 457 



(1893). 

 Aledhelia urvilii. Less, and Gam. Bull. Sci. Nat. viii. p. 115 



(1826). 

 Megapodius quoyi^ Gray, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 289, pi. xxxii. 



Adult Male and Female. — General plumage black washed with 

 grey, except the wings, lower back, and belly, which are 

 tinged with brown ; feathers on the head extending to the base 

 of tlie bill and forming a short full crest. Legs black. Total 

 length, 15 inches; wing, 87-9; tail, z-zz\ tarsus, 27-3. 



Range. — The Molucca Islands and Western New Guinea. 



XII. THE GEELVINK BAY MEGAPODE. MEGAPODIUS 

 GEELVINKIANUS. 



Megapodius geelvinkianus, Meyer, SB. Ak. Wien, Ixix, p. 88 

 (1874) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 459 

 (1893). 



Megapodius affi?iis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. viii. p. 406 

 (1876). 



N 2 



