230 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



the thick brush near the sea-shore. Some species go in large flocks, tlie Megapodi%u 

 nicolHiriensis having been met with in coveys of from thirty to fifty, but the majority 

 of this genus arc more usually met with in i>airs ami in <juitc small jiarties. They arc 

 natives of Australi:i, New Guinea, tlie islands of tlic eastern archipelago, anil of the 

 Pacific Ocean. As their habits and economy arc generally alike, a description of 

 those of M. (iimuhts from Australia will answer for all the species of the genus. 



The Australian mcgnpode is accustdnied to seize with his foot a mass of soil, dead 

 leaves, and other kinds of vegetable matter, and with a ])o\verful kick backwards 

 throw it to a common centre. The males assist the females in the operation of buil<l- 

 iiig the mound. By the constant accumulation of soil, and vcget.able refuse, a conical 

 mound is built, and this is added to year after year by the original builders, or others, 

 perliajis their descendants, until they grow to a siz-e that is almost incredible. One, 

 the largest that seems to be on record, was situated on the island of Nogo in 

 Endeavour Straits, and measured no less than 150 feet in circumference; and to form 

 this huge accumulation of materials the ground had been scraped bare in the vicinity, 

 even some shallow excavations having been made. The larger end was elevated 14 

 feet above the grountl, and the slope measured in different directions 18, 2H, and 

 24 feet. Usually these mounds are formed of a light vegetable soil, but occasionally 

 they consist of sifted gravel intermixed with portions of soil and decayed wood, and 

 are generally conical in form ; but one specimen was described as resembling a bank 

 from twenty-five to thirty feet in length, with an average height of live feet. Some 

 of these mounds are doubtless very ancient, and trees a foot in diameter have been 

 found growing from the centre of the mass. After a mound has been constructed, or 

 an old one reliuilt and arr.anged to suit them, the eggs are laid at a depth of five 

 to 8i.K feet from the surface, the hen scratching a hole in the vegetable matter for 

 the ]>urpose. It is then covered and left. The eggs are always deposited at night, 

 and the holes in which they are placed generally run in an oblique direction so that 

 thcv are nearer the side of the mound than they are to the summit. The exact num- 

 ber laid by a hen is not known, but four have been taken at one time. After the hen 

 has laid her comi)lement of eggs, they are left to be hatched by the heat of the decom- 

 posing mass, and the chick appears fidly feathered and able to tly. How the yoinig 

 make their way to the surface is :\ mystery, but once out they can take care of them- 

 selves verv well. At first they remain about the mound, but in a few days they may 

 be fonnil a long distance from it, and if disturbed they run off, or fly into some tree 

 for refu'^e. These mounds are always constructed in some dense thicket, never in the 

 open field, and it can generally be known when a binl has visited any one of them by 

 the tracks left u])on its sides. The mega])ode never goes far inland, keeping about 

 the beach or along the banks of creeks. It feeds on roots, which it scratches u]) with 

 its ])owcrful claws, seeds, berries, and insects. It is very shy and rarely seen. The 

 flight is heavy and not continued, and generally, when disturbed, the bird takes refuge 

 in a tree. At night they keep up a noisy cackling, and utter a hoarse note during the 

 day. The eggs are white, but after being ileposited, a crust, colored sonu'what .acv 

 cording to the soil in which it is placed, forms u]>oii the shell, which, however, readily 

 chips off. They vary in size, but are about 3\ by 2^ inches, and both ends are 

 equal. The Australian mega|)ode is about the size of a conunon fowl. They jiossess 

 a complete, thick, ami nmscular gizzard. The Nicobar mcga])ode, Jf. iiicobariensis, 

 seems to differ slightly in certain of its habits from the Australian species, for the 

 natives slate that a pair and all its ])rogcny use and add to a mound year .after year, 



