174 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 
specimens (about forty) I got, there was not asingle male bird ; 
they were all females.” 
Eggs.—Like those of AZ. nicobariensis, pale cinnamon colour. 
Average measurements, 3 by 1°9 inches. 
IX. MACGILLIVRAYS MEGAPODE. MEGAPODIUS MACGILLI- 
VRAYI. 
Megapodius macgillivrayt, Gray, P. Z. 5. 1861, p. 289; 1864, 
p.43; Sclater, P. Z. $.1376, p. 460, pl. xlii.; Ogilvie-Grant, 
Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 453 (1893). 
Adult Male and Female-—Much like JZ. evemi/a 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 5 tarsus, 2°3-2°7, 
Range.—L.ouisiade Archipelago, extending to the shores of 
Huon Gulf and the Astrolabe Mountains. 
Habits—Mr. J. Macgillivray, the original discoverer of this 
Megapode, writes 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 were placed on the outer margin of the thickets close to 
the beach, and others were scattered about more inland. As 
several of these mounds showed indications of having lately 
b:en 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- 
