70 Zoological Society :— 
The name given above (with the very short specific characters) was 
found among others in the manuscripts of Anderson, who was as- 
sistant-surgeon during the third voyage of the famous circumnavi- 
gator Cook. “Though the description is so short and concise, I am, 
however, induced to suppose that it can only be referred to a species 
of Megapodius; certainly it cannot be reconciled with any of the 
present known birds from New Caledonia. I refer to it in the hope 
that this slight indication may lead to its beg searched for by col- 
lectors and others who may be located in that island, thus proving 
whether I am right in my supposition with regard to its being one of 
this remarkable genus. 
The family of Megapodiide is composed of a series of birds which 
are very remarkable for the extraordinary and anomalous contri- 
vances resorted to by the different species for obtaining the artificial 
heat that is necessary for bringing their eggs to maturity ; and for 
other singularities in their general habits, &c. The account which 
follows is principally collected together into one view from different 
published sources. 
These birds are all, with one solitary exception, as far as is at pre- 
sent known, inhabitants of certain localities within the tropics, viz.:— 
Nicobar Islands, Lombock, Borneo (N.W.), Labuan, and Lucon. 
Celebes, Gilolo, Batchian, Ceram, Amboina, Banda Islands, Guébé, 
Boni, and Waigiou Islands. 
New Guinea, Louisiade Archipelago, Aru and Ké Islands. 
Australia (North, West, and South), Islands in Endeavour and 
Torres’ Straits. 
Ladrone or Marian Islands. They are also known to exist in Ha- 
pace or Habai Islands, Samoan or Navigator’s Islands; and pro- 
bably in New Caledonia. 
They generally inhabit the dense forests, brushes, and mangrove 
swamps, or jungles of luxuriant vegetation, especially those that 
border the sea-beach, or rivers and creeks ; but others (Lepoa ocel- 
lata) prefer the sandy districts of the scrub. 
Their appearance when walking in open places is stately and some- 
what sedate; which may be occasioned by their habit of lifting their 
feet very high, and of setting their backs up, somewhat like the 
guinea-fowls. Their extreme shyness and timidity causes them to 
reside in, or to remain in close approximation to, the thickets, &c., 
that they may escape, if disturbed, by running (which they do with 
great quickness) among the vegetation ; but should they fail thus to 
conceal themselves, they then fly on to the lower branches of the 
trees, where they remain quite motionless, with the neck sometimes 
stretched out in a line with the body, or they ascend to the top of 
the tree by leaping from branch to branch ; and should they still be 
alarmed they will fly off with a heavy flight for a short distance to 
some other more secure position, where they can only be approached 
by carefully proceeding under cover of the large trees. It has, 
however, been remarked that some species have never been seen to 
erch. 
‘ They are often heard uttering at intervals a loud clucking or 
