Birds of Celebes: Megapodidae. (',73 



identity with Philii^pine birds and close affinity with the Sangi, Sula, Tenimber 

 and Nicobar races, it may be assumed that the Celebesian bird is either a recent 

 addition to the island, or that it has recently colonised the other islands from 

 Celebes. Mr. Ogilvie-Grant distinguishes these Megapodes by their not having 

 the mantle grey, but olive -brown or rufous brown, like the rest of the back. 

 The grey-mantled species — about five in number — range from the Moluccas 

 and Lombok to New Guinea, the Solomons and Northern Australia; all other 

 species (which have a blackish grey upper surface) belong to Papuasia, the 

 Moluccas, or Polynesia, so that the genus is pre-eminently Australasian. 



Compared with Mindanao examples those of Celebes are smaller, darker 

 above and more strongly tinged with grey below; in the last respect they differ 

 from a North Bornean example, which is much browner below and seems to 

 have a longer, thinner bill. Sangi and Talaut birds (M. sangiretisis) are larger 

 than those of Celebes, much darker above, and darker and browner below. 



This Megapode is rather a rare bird in the Minahassa , where the Drs. 

 Sarasin have met with most success in finding it. Like Caloenas tiicobarica, 

 it appears to be more plentiful on the neighbouring small islands, probably 

 because Crocodiles, lazards, and Mammals, which destroy their eggs, are less 

 plentiful there. Thus, Meyer found it fairly abundant on a small island off 

 Paguatt, and obtained it on Togian Island; Hickson observed it continually on 

 Talissi Island and records it from Tendila Island; other naturalists record it from 

 numerous small islands near N. Borneo, but Pryer only from the mainland. 

 Hickson says it is very fond of the bamboo woods of Talissi, where it was 

 almost always to be seen or heard in a quarter of a mile's walk; it is, however, 

 very shy and difficult to shoot. It "lays its eggs in the forest under a heap of 

 decaying leaves". Mr. Wallace (a 1) says that it scratches out a hole in the 

 rotten stump or root of a fallen tree, there burying its eggs. Meyer was told 

 by the natives that it constructs a mound about two feet high of leaves and 

 bushes, in which the eggs are buried. Drs. Sarasin have kindly furnished us 

 with a sketch of a nesting place of this species near Tomohon, about 1200 m, 

 done by one of their hunters (reproduced p. 674). There were heaps of earth 

 and leaves upheaved round the base of a dead tree. They sent an egg from 

 there (3. VI. 1894). The best account of the breeding of this species is given 

 by Whitehead (Ibis 1888, 411), whose remarks relate to the small islands near 

 Borneo , and to Palawan : "Their nest is a most wonderful structure , and is no 

 doubt built by the labour of several pairs of birds. A Sulu boy caught seven 

 or eight birds on one heap. The largest nest I have seen was 34 paces round 

 and 5V2 feet high, and the heap must have contained many cartloads of earth, 

 sticks, and stones, and yet the ground round about was apparently untouched. 

 How such a heap is brought together is a mystery; but it is no doubt the gradual 

 work of many birds for several years; for the birds, if not molested, use the 

 same heap many seasons. The eggs are often buried so deep that with our 

 small implements (a cocoa-nut shell) we found it impossible to get at them. The 



Meyor Sc Wi gUs iv o rtli, Birds of Celebes (Nov. 24ili, IsOTI. 85 



