82 The Andamans and Nicohars. — V. Ball. 



In the young- the cervical plumes are not elongated,, the tail 

 is concoloroas with the body, which is more coppery and less 

 green than in the adult. 



A small quail was seen and shot by me in the Nicobars, but 

 the specimen was lost in tlie long grass. 



MEGAFOBIB^. 



102— (803 sex). — Megapodius Nicobariensis, Blyth. 



Nicobars.—Blyth, J. A. S. S., XV, pp. 52, 372; Pelz., Reise der 

 Novara, Yoqel, p. 110, PL IV, .Jigs. 1-3; Ball, J. A. S. B., 

 XXXIX, Pt. II, 1870, p. 25. 



" Genbeal hue of the upper parts deep-olive-brown, with a 

 tinge of ochreous^ which becomes more decided on the wings ; 

 lower parts dingy greyish-brown, with a slight tinge of ochreous 

 on the breast, and which prevails throughout the under parts of 

 a presumed female; crown slightly rufescent-brown, prolonged 

 into a short crest, and the occipital feathers impended by the 

 coronal are light greyish ; lores, cheeks, and throat ahiiost naked ; 

 the primaries light ochreous on their outer webs, and dusky 

 internally ; bill yellow, legs and claws dark horn-coloured. The 

 cheek is colored nearly as in the adult, but is smothered with 

 faint russet on the wings. — Blyth, loc. cit. 



Measurements in inches — 



Blyth. Ball. 



Length ... 15* 15'5 (measured in the flesh). 



Wing ... 9- 9-25 



Extent 27' q. p. 



Bill from gape 1'12 



Tarsus ... 2-5 2-5* 



Hind claw ... "8 '8 



Iris dull orange. 



The eggs are nearly truly elli])tieal and of enormous size as 

 compared with the bird. Two which 1 procured had the follow- 

 ing dimensions : — 



No. 1. No. 2. 



Length ... 3-3 3-125. 



Circumference ... 6"6 6'375. 



Colour brick-red. One figured by Pelzeln has somewhat of an 

 olivaceous tinge. 



This bird appears to be common in the Nicobars. In 1869, 

 jiist after the formation of the new settlement, I shot three 

 specimens one morning close to the houses. The first of them 

 flew 11]) into a tree and was shot when perched on a branch some 

 20 feet from the ground. The two others were running together 

 and fell to the same shot. It is a very noisy bird, its peculiar 

 guttural crow reminded me of the croaking of bull frogs, and 



* Original!)' stated by luistake 3 inches. 



