674 



Birds of Celebes: Megapodidae. 



eggs are often placed among the roots of a tree, and this makes them very 

 difficult to get at. A good many leaves are plncked and placed in the hole, 

 and amongst these the egg is laid. The leaves would ferment and so assist in 

 hatching the eggs, which are of a pale salmon -colour with a chalky surface, 

 •which is easily chipped off." 



"The young birds' early life is to me a mystery. It may be dug out of 

 the heap fully fledged and ready to fly . . . The young are neither fed nor 

 looked after by their parents, which, as they are of all ages, would be difficult. 



.They generally squat until you are within 15 yards or so and then take wing 

 like a Quail, never running out of danger like the old bii'ds". 



There is a great charm in the idea of thus awaking into life, as capable 

 of enjoying it as a child of ten! Prof. W. Blasius has stated (in a lecture) 

 that he once was watching an egg of the allied Taleffallus-Hen; presently it 

 cracked, and out came a chick, which flew straight up on to a perch; and 

 the observation has been made by other naturalists on that species (Gld., HB. 

 B. Austr. 1865, II, 153). Mr. Wallace records a very similar observation on 

 the Moleo, and Dr. Studer on M. freydneti (Reise Gazelle 1889, III, 253), and 

 we believe the same condition will be found to exist in most Megapodes. The 



