606 MR. J. BRAZIER ON THE EGGS OF MEGAPODES. [Nov. 17, 



Whitmee said, " From further inquiries made respecting this bird, 

 I feel convinced that it burrows, and that it feeds and goes about 

 chiefly at night. It is certain that it was common in Samoa 

 formerly ; but those who knew it when it was plentiful, have nearly 

 all died out." 



The following communication was read from Sir Victor Brooke, 

 Bart, F.Z.S.:— 



"In the P. Z. S. 18/2, p. 690, Dr. Sclater identifies a deer living 

 in the Society's Menagerie with Cervus savannarum (Cab.), which 

 species is represented in European Museums by one solitary speci- 

 men, the type, at Berlin. It appears to me that Dr. Sclater is 

 mistaken in this identification. In the first place the deer in the 

 Society's Gardens is a very much larger animal than the true 

 C. savannarum, as will be shown by the following measurements 

 taken from the type specimen in Berlin : — 



inches. 



Height at shoulder 26i 



Length from point of shoulder to the ischial extremity 



of the haunch - 29 



Length of face from between the horns to the tip of 



the nose 7g 



Horns (length) 9g 



In the true C. savannarum there is no sign whatever of the tarsal 

 gland, whereas in the Society's specimen the position of this gland 

 is marked by a very conspicuous white tuft, well shown in Mr. 

 Keuleman's drawing (P. Z. S. 1872, pi. lix.). In this latter specimen 

 the horns bear several long tines on their posterior surface, closely 

 resembling in this respect and in their general character those of 

 C. virginianus. In the true C. savannarum, as exemplified by the 

 single specimen known, the horns bear only one long tine, which is 

 but very little smaller than the part of the beam anterior to it, thus 

 more approaching C. macrotis and C. columbianus ; small brow- 

 antlers arise from the beams, a little above the burrs, projecting 

 inwards. In colour the Berlin specimen differs considerably from 

 that in the Gardens. 



A series of eggs of Megapodes (Megapodius) transmitted by 

 Mr. John Brazier, C.M.Z.S., was exhibited and the following notes 

 on them read : — 



"I send 24 eggs of a species, or of various species, of Megapode, of 

 which Hare from Savu or Galera or Russell Island, 1 from Treasury 

 Island, and 9 from New Britain, all islands of the Solomons group. I 

 also send one bird in spirits, which was hatched on board ship August 

 21, and died Sept. 8, 1872 ; this bird was from a Savu egg. The 

 natives bring these eggs off for sale to passing ships by the thousand, 

 and at the same time eat the eggs raw. I have eaten the eggs when 

 boiled, but do not much care for them, as they have a raw-potato-like 



