1869.) LETTER FROM MR. E. L. LAYARD. 529 
respecting the existence of Megapodius in the group of New He- 
brides, except the short notes of Dr. Bennett (P. Z.S. 1862, p. 247), 
where he alluded to the occurrence of this form in the islands of 
Tanna and Sandwich. Mr. Sclater had compared the present spe- 
cimen with the series of eggs of the birds of this genus in the British 
Museum, and found it to come nearest to that of Megapodius 
pritchardi, G. R. Gray (P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 41, t. vi.), which is figured 
in Hartlaub and Finsch’s ‘ Ornithology of Polynesia,’ plate 2. But 
it was larger and more deeply coloured than that egg, and appeared 
to indicate the existence of an undescribed species of Megapode in 
Banks’s Island, for which, following Mr. Gray’s example, he sug- 
gested the name Megapodius brazieri. 
The Secretary stated that, in reference to the preceding discussion 
as to the present existence of the Rhinoceros in Borneo, he had 
addressed letters to Mr. W. T. Fraser, C.M.Z.S., of Soerabaya, Java, 
and Mr. Pope Hennessy, Governor of Labuan, requesting them to 
endeavour to obtain information on the subject. From Mr. Fraser 
he had received the following reply, dated Soerabaya, August 30th, 
1869 :— 
“I duly received your note of the 30th of April regarding the 
existence of the Rhinoceros in Borneo. There have lately been ar- 
rivals of several prahus from Koeti, and I have been able to question 
the crews on the matter. They tell me that the animal has often 
been met with in the interior, in the centre of the forests; but they 
say that they have not heard of any having been caught. They 
seem to think that it is quite impossible to obtain either skulls or 
teeth of the animal. I promised them a good reward if they brought 
me any the next time they returned from Koeti; and perhaps this 
may have some effect. If I hear any thing further regarding the 
matter, I shall immediately let you know. I believe you can accept 
it as a certain fact that the Rhinoceros is an inhabitant of Borneo.” 
The following letter was read, addressed to the Secretary by Mr. 
E. L. Layard, F.Z.S., dated Cape Town, October 19, 1869 :— 
“‘Srr,—The ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for the year 
1869, Part I., reached me by this mail; and on looking through 
them, at page 143, in Mr. A. D. Bartlett’s very interesting account 
of the pellets thrown up by the male Hornbill (Buceros) I find Mr. 
Bartlett stating that ‘he believed’ Dr. Livingstone was the first 
person who called attention to the singular habit of the Hornbill in 
imprisoning the female in her nest during the term of incubation. 
He refers to the ‘Missionary Travels in South Africa’ (p. 613). 
This book was published in 1857. 
‘«<If Mr. Bartlett will refer to the ‘Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ 
(series 2. vol. xi. p. 234), published in 1853, he will find that in my 
‘ Rambles in Ceylon’ I have already noticed the fact, on equally good 
testimony as that of Dr. Livingstone. I do not, however, think that 
