528 MR. J. BRAZIER ON THE EGG OF A MEGAPODE. [Nov, 25, 
logne, had accepted the post of Director of the new establishment, 
which seemed likely to become one of the most flourishing institu- 
tions of the sort on the Continent. 
In the Zoological Gardens of Cologne Mr. Sclater had likewise 
seen much that was of interest, including breeding pairs and young 
of Crax yarrelli and Dendrocygna arborea. 
The well-known Gardens of Antwerp, under the care of M. Veke- 
mans, F.Z.S., remained unrivalled as regards their collection of 
Antelopes and breeding Phasianide. Amongst the former series 
were pairs of both Gnus (Catodlepas gnu and C. gorgon), the Kob 
(Antilope unctuosa), the Dama Antelope (Gazella dama), the Leu- 
coryx (Oryx leucoryx), and the Bless-bok (Damalis albifrons) ; 
besides single specimens of the Bontebok (D. pygargus), the Bubal 
(Boselaphus bubalus), the Hartebeest (B. caama), and the Reh-bok 
(A. capreolus). There was likewise a fine male Prongbuck (Antilo- 
capra americana), believed te be the only example ever brought to 
Europe, except that formerly in the Society’s collection. This 
animal had regularly shed its horns during the two autumns it had 
passed at Antwerp, and had thus confirmed the previous observations 
of Mr. Bartlett and Dr. Canfield on this subject *. 
The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Mr. John Brazier, C.M.Z.S., 
a specimen of an egg of a species of Megapodius from Banks’s 
Island, and read the following notes by Mr. Brazier concerning it :— 
“The egg I send to the Society I obtained, with four other spe- 
cimens, at Vavua Lavu, or the Great Island in Banks’s Islands, 
13° 52'S. lat., 169° 4' E. long., situated near the New Hebrides 
group. The bird is well known to the inhabitants of Banks’s Island ; 
and my specimens were purchased of a native. The Megapode that 
lays this egg builds its mound on the mountains near the sulphur- 
springs. The natives told me that the mound is large, or, as they 
expressed it, a ‘big-fellow house.’ The contents of the egg were 
good eating. When I was on shore collecting shells &c. at Sand- 
wich Island, New Hebrides, a native offered me two eggs for sale, 
but he wanted more than I felt inclined to give him for them. I 
believe my friend Sir W. T. Wiseman took four or five of the very 
same egg, that had been brought alongside of the ship at Vavua Lavu, 
or Great Island. When I had bought my specimens from the 
native, I set out at once for the mountains to obtain, if possible, 
some of the birds; but it came on to rain, and, night setting in, I had 
to return to the ship. Our stay there was only one day, for the 
greater part of which it rained. I was the first naturalist that had 
ever landed on the island to collect specimens of natural history. I 
should mention that I obtained the eggs on the 21st of August, 1865. 
I send you one specimen; one I keep myself; and the other has 
gone to Mr. Krefft for our National Museum.” 
Mr. Sclater stated that he was not aware of any previous record 
* Of. Partlett, ‘On the Affinities of the Prongbuck,” P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 718, 
and Canfield, “On the Habits of the Prongbuck,” P. Z. 8. 1866, p. 105. 
