THE MEGAPODIUS. 251 



natives' view of the question as the more probable 

 one, and under the guidance of a very intelligent 

 native proceeded to a part of the harbour but 

 little known, where a number of these birds were 

 always to be seen. Landing beside a thicket, they 

 had not proceeded far up the shore ere they came 

 to a mound of sand and shells, with a slight mix- 

 ture of black soil, the base resting on a sandy 

 beach only a few feet above high-water mark. 

 This mound was enveloped by trees, was of conical 

 form, twenty feet in circumference at the base, 

 and about five feet in height. On pointing it out to 

 the native, and asking what it was, he replied, that 

 it was a jungle fowl's house, or nest. Mr. Gilbert 

 scrambled up the sides of it, and, to his extreme 

 delight, found a young bird in a hole about two 

 feet deep. It was lying on a few dry withered 

 leaves, and appeared to be only a few days' old. 

 The utmost care was taken of this young bird, 

 which it was intended to rear, if possible. A 

 moderately sized box was therefore procured, in 

 which a large portion of sand was placed. It fed 

 freely on bruised Indian corn, but it proved of so 

 wild and intractable a disposition, that it would 

 not reconcile itself to such close confinement, and 



