MEGAPODES 113 



only pricked when approaching, but scratched while getting 



away.* 



Behind the village we found a fairly recent grave, around 



which the possessions of the deceased had been deposited — a 



wooden chest with the lid wrenched off, clothing, spoons, forks, 



tools, axes, ddos, and other things, forming a miscellaneous 



collection that was rapidly rotting away. There they would 



stay until destroyed by the exposure, for no one would venture 



to help himself, however valuable or useful the articles might be. 



In front of one house was a solitary example of kanaia, 



set up on land, however, instead of in the water : possibly the 



south-west monsoon blows too strongly on this coast for their 



general erection. The name of this village is Ol-kolo-kwdk. 



To reach land on the southern side of the bay we had to 



cross a broad reef of coral and coral sand, thickly overgrown 



with grass and corallines, and dotted with various species of 



holothurians. The forest on shore came right down to the 



water ; and once inside it, we found ourselves in very truth in 



the home of the megapode. 



No sooner were we under the trees than we immediately 



saw the birds — for the jungle is very open — running about, 



singly or in parties of twos or threes. From all round came 



their cries, perhaps best described as loud, ringing calls ending 



in a rapid cackle, to the sound of which the following syllables 



bear some resemblance — " ijrr-rak, urr-rak, ur-r-rak, rak, rak, rak, 



rak ! " The megapode hardly ever takes to flight when startled, but 



runs quickly away among the bushes ; the only occasion on 



which I ever saw these birds use their wings was when once I 



suddenly walked into a party of four, scratching at the foot of 



a large tree. Two ran off, but the others rose clumsily in the 



air, and after flying a short distance, attempted to settle on a 



low branch, on which they alighted very awkwardly, and immedi- 



* A legend illustrative of the unpleasant qualities of the pandanus, 

 recorded by Mr F. C. Christian in The Caroline Islands^ runs : that the 

 Thunder-god, descending to earth, alighted in a pandanus bush, and found 

 the situation so painful that he bestowed the art of making fire and mould- 

 ing-pots upon the woman who released him from his predicament ! 



H 



