THE MEGAPODES. 



GALLING— PERISTEROPODES. 



The Megapodes differ from the other 

 Gallinaceous Birds in having a large hind 

 toe placed on the same level as the three 

 front toes. They also differ in that they 

 do not incubate their eggs but leave them 

 to be hatched in a mound of earth or 

 rubbish, the necessary heat being appa- 

 rently developed by the decay of these 

 substances. 



The Megapodes occur chiefly in 

 Australia and the islands of the Pacific 

 Ocean, but one species extends to the 

 Nicobar Islands and consequently must 

 be included in my volume. 



In the Nicobar Megapode the sexes 

 are alike. The tail is short, rounded and 

 composed of twelve feathers. There is 

 no crest, and the crown of the head is 

 frequently bare of feathers. The skin 

 round the eye is naked. The claws of 

 the foot are extremely long. The general 

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