68 TILANCHONG 



three of the latter, and as one moved along it was to an 

 accompaniment of scurrying reptiles that dropped from the 

 adjacent branches and darted off to a less immediate neighbour- 

 hood. Especially did they swarm in the jungle growing on the 

 dry coral sand above the beach. Besides this small species we 

 found a Varapius lizard, 5 to 6 feet long — very common. We 

 frequently saw them, or heard their noisy rush through the 

 bushes, as, disturbed by our approach, they galloped out of 

 danger. Of the birds, the splendid fruit- pigeons {Carpophaga 

 insula?'is), generally so wary and unapproachable, denizens of 

 the highest tree-tops, were so unsuspicious that time after time 

 we knocked them over with a pinch of dust shot, and parrots 

 and Nicobar pigeons were obtained with almost equal ease. 

 The latter, whose range extends from these islands eastward 

 to the Solomons, are extremely beautiful birds. The feet are 

 plum-coloured, and the stumpy tail, which is almost hidden by 

 the wings, is snow-white. The head and neck are a delicate 

 grey, while the long, flowing hackles and the rest of the plumage 

 are of a glorious metallic green, iridescent in the sunlight, with 

 shining tints of gold, purple, and blue. 



We had not long separated before I caught sight of two 

 megapodes scuttling through the bushes — dull - brown birds 

 about the size of a six-months'-old chicken. They disappeared 

 before I could shoot, but, close by to where they had been, I 

 found one of their laying-places, a mound of fresh earth about 

 4 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, disturbed by recent 

 working. 



For a few hundred yards beyond the beach the soil is very 

 light and friable, a mixture of vegetable loam and disintegrated 

 coral ; but behind this it becomes swampy, supporting a densely- 

 matted growth, and while collecting amongst this, I lost my 

 bearings and spent a warm half-hour cutting a way back to 

 the more open forest in the vicinity of the boat. 



''Jatiuary 30. — This morning got my first megapode. Soon 

 after landing, I saw a Nicobar pigeon on the ground, and while 

 stalking it to get a close shot, noticed near by three birds, of 



