i8o Lloyd's natural history. 



Adult. — Allied to M. freychieti^ but said to be distinguished 

 by having the legs cherry-red. Total length, 14 inches; wing, 

 ^■5~9*5 j tail, 27-3; tarsus, 2-5-2-8. I have not seen an 

 example of this species. 



Eange. — Mafoor, Misori, and Jobi Islands in Geelvink Bay, 

 and Dorey, New Guinea. 



XIII. LAYARD'S ME3AP0DE. MEGAPODIUS LAVARDI. 



Megapodius brazierl, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1869, p. 528 [founded oi'i 



an egg from Banks I.]. 

 Megapodius layardi^ Tristram. Ibis, 1879, p. 194; Ogilvie- 



Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 459 (1893). 



{Plate XXXV.) 



Adult Male and Female. — Head and neck with the exception of 

 the back of the head and nape almost naked ; general plumage 

 black, washed with grey, except the wings and rump, which have 

 an olive tinge ; belly paler than the breast. \.^gs yellow. Total 

 length, 17 inches; wing, 9*5 ; tail, 3*5 ; tarsus, 2"9. 



Eange. — New Hebrides. 



Mr. Layard writes : — "The native name is 'Malou.' This bird 

 is getting very scarce in consequence of the rapid increase of 

 pigs and tame cats that have taken to the bush. It is a very shy 

 and wary bird, and is found only on the sides of deep, densely 

 wooded ravines, where it scratches about among the rocks for 

 the worms, small helices, and little hard seeds that form its 

 food. The natives among the New Hebrides group tell me 

 that in their islands the ' Malou ' deposits its eggs in a hole 

 scratched under a rotten fallen log in the forest, and then 

 covers them up with leaves. This account was confirmed by 

 an intelligent missionary on the island of Sandwich, or Vate. 

 . . While staying on Vate I offered a large reward in 

 beads, tobacco, and tomahawks to any native who would con- 

 duct me to a nest, so that I could get the e.egs out with my 

 own hands. Just two days after I had left in tTie Day spring ioi 



