184 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 
says that the bird lives in the scrubs in the centre of the island, 
about a large lagoon of brackish water, which has the appear- 
ance of being an extinct crater; the birds lay their eggs on 
one side only of this lagoon, where the soil is composed of 
sulphur-looking sand ; the eggs are deposited from one to two 
feet beneath the surface. ‘The locality frequented by these 
birds is, on this island, under the protection of the king or 
chief; and by his permission only can the birds or eggs be 
procured. The number of eggs deposited in the mounds 
varies, as the eggs are laid by different birds in succession ; 
but as many as forty eggs are said to have been procured from 
one mound. | 
Mr. F. Hiibner also makes the following observations : — 
“The breeding time of this species isnot so confined to 
certain months as has been noticed by Dr. Wallace in respect 
of certain Malayan species. : He gives as the season of incu- 
bation August and September ; but of this bird I got fresh 
“eggs in October and November also, and, according to Captain 
Nagel and the natives, eggs are to be found likewise in other 
months. Immediately after leaving the eggs, the young birds 
are not only able to run, but also to fly. The old birds are 
excellent runners, but their flight is somewhat heavy, as in the 
‘common fowl; when alarmed they perch on trees. The 
stomachs of those I shot were mostly filled with land-shells, 
small. crabs, and scolopendras, but 1a a few cases I found 
seeds. . . . The male may be distinguished at once from 
the female by its orange feet, which in the latter are yellow.” 
Eggs.—Similar to those of the other species already described, 
but more than usually pointed ovals, and rather smaller 
Average measurements, 2°9 by 1°7 inches. | 
THE PAINTED MEGAPODES. GENUS EULIPOA. - 
Eulipoa, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 462 (1893). 
Type, £. wallaci? (Gray). 
Like Megapodius, but the secondary quills are much shorter 
than the primaries. 
