THE TRUE MEGAPODES, 179 
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 
2X, 
XI. FREYCINET’S MEGAPODE, MEGAPODIUS FREYCINETI. 
Megapodius freycinet, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. “Uranie,” p. 125, 
pk 22,(1824). 
Megapodius freycinett, Temm. Pl. Col. v. pl. 45 [No. 220] 
(1825 ?); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 457 
(1893). 
Alecthelia urvilii, Less. and Garn. Bull. Sci. Nat. vill. p. 115 
(1826). 
Megapodius quoyt, Gray, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 289, pl. 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 the bill and forming a short full crest. Legs d/ack. Total 
Jeneth, 15 inches ; wing, 8°7—9); tail, 3-3°3 ; tarsus, 2°7—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 affinis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. vill. p. 406 
(1876). 
N 2 
