COLLECTED IN NOIMHEHN CELEHES. 79 



j.>;ro\vtli about two feet high across a small ishiiid, aiid al 

 stated (lislaiicesthey leave openings ov « eyos » as they call 

 them. Tho birds havc hiit lo lly over this little barrier to 

 be safc, but Ihe native kuows well enoiigh Ihat they will 

 not (lo this, and so he prepares to take them as they riin. 

 Over each « eye » in the hedge the sapling is bent; and 

 a small inclined platform iias to be crossed : round the 

 latter the noose is laid; as the Megapode is pulled np 

 short by the hedges, instead of ilying over the obstacle, 

 the bird foolishly skirts aloug until it comes to an ope- 

 ning, Steps on the platform, which immediately gives 

 way, when the noose is set free and the sapling Springs 

 back, suspending the unfortiinale qnarry in mid-air by 

 the legs. 



The cry of the Megapode is decidedly melancholy, and 

 the Single note is uttered in monotonous succession. The 

 native name is « Menambnn » or « INIenimbun », the latter 

 indicating the constructing of a heap. 



The birds construet a monnd in which the eggs are 

 deposited. 1 myself, have seen these moiinds on Pappan 

 and Karamaii Islands; they are bnilt out of the reach of 

 Ihe tide, where the jungte commences, in such places, 

 in fact, where the sand is soft, and the Turtles lay their 

 eggs. In digging down for the Megapodes eggs, one gene- 

 rally finds some rotten logs of drift-wood, which have 

 been washed up by the sea during the N. E. Monsoon. 

 These form the foundation of the mound, which is com- 

 posed of dark coloured sand mixed with leaves and twigs 

 which fall fi-om the jungle around. As a ruie, the mouud 

 is well sheltered and indeed almost hidden, as the bird 

 has many enemies, besides bis chief one, in the shape of 

 man. 



The nesting season is apparently from September to 

 November. 



The mounds are of irregulär shape and are determined 

 by the character of the neighbouring jungle, according as 

 the latter all'ords suitable material for their constructioii. 

 \s far as my expericnce goes, Ihe mounds are from six 



