330 The Philippine Journal of Science wis 



in a little dugout and pushed on farther and when even this 

 light craft grounded on the shallows we landed and made the 

 rest of our way on foot. At a settlement not far from the 

 landing guides were obtained for the mountain trails. 



Leaving the settlement we took to the forest paths and crossed 

 the mountain ridges until midafternoon, when we made camp 

 by a little river high in the hills. The forest here was very 

 dense, and birds apparently were scarce. Next day by an early 

 start and by dint of strenuous hiking we managed to reach the 

 settlement of Bonabona at dark. The way led first through 

 mountain forests, then over grassy hillsides, and finally dropped 

 to level, tree-dotted plains, alternating with swamps and marsh- 

 land, until the sandy beach of the Sulu Sea was reached a short 

 distance below our destination. From there we followed the 

 beach to Bonabona. 



I was unable to induce the natives of Bonabona to take me 

 up the coast to Brooke's Point by boat, owing to heavy seas. 

 Accordingly next morning, with fresh carriers, I took up the 

 trail on foot and reached the desired locality by nightfall. The 

 trail embraced seashore, grassed plains, open woods, mangrove 

 swamps, broad river valleys, some of which were dry, and heavy 

 forest, all practically at sea level. 



On March 28, the day following arrival, I resumed operations 

 at Brooke's Point and continued them until April 3, which was 

 marked by the appearance of the steamer on which I planned 

 to leave the locality. On the voyage up the coast between 

 Brooke's Point and Puerto Princesa, the vessel stopped at Cala- 

 tugas on April 4 and 5 and at Tagbariri on April 6 and 7. I 

 went ashore at both places and found much the same type of 

 country at both — a low sandy beach with forest in the rear. 

 Beyond Tagbariri other matters occupied my attention and no 

 further detailed notes were taken. 



MEGAPODIID^ 

 Megapodius cumingi Dillwyn, 



Occasionally I saw megapodes, usually in pairs, along the 

 shore near Brooke's Point. The birds were very wary and when 

 alarmed took a running flight into the nearby jungle, uttering 

 a loud cackling note. I flushed one pair from the bottom of a 

 burrow, which had been scratched for a depth of about one 

 meter below the roots of an old stump. The bulky mounds con- 

 structed by the species were numerous in the woods bordering 

 the beach. 



