393 



NATURAL mSTORY 



in one foot, and throw it a long way behind them, 

 'W^hen once properly buried the eggs seem to be no more 

 cared for, the yoiiDg birds working their way np through 

 the heiip of rubbish, and rmiiiiiig off at once into the forest. 

 They come out of the egg covered with thick downy 

 feathers, and have no taU, although the wings are fuUy 

 developed 



I was so fortnnate as to discover a new species (Mega- 

 podius wallacei), which inhabits Gilolo, Temate, and 

 Boura. It is the handsomest bird of the genus, being 

 ricUy banded with reddish brown on the back and wings ; 

 and it ditfei-s from the otlier species in its habits. It fre- 

 quents the forests of the interior, and conies down to the 

 sea-beach to deposit its eggs, but instead of making a 

 mound, or scratching a hole to receive them, it burrows into 

 the sand to the depth of about three feet obliquely dowTi- 

 wards, and deposits its eggs at the bottom. It then loosely 

 covers np the mouth of the hole, and is said by the natives 

 to obliterate and disguise its own footmarks leading to and 

 from the hole, by making nmny other tracks and scratches 

 in the neighbourhood it lays its eggs only at night, and 

 at Bourn a bii-d was caught early one morning as it was 

 coming out of its hole, in which several eggs were Ibnnd. 

 All these birds seem to be senii-noctumal, for their loud 

 wailing cries may be constantly heard late into the niglit 

 and long before daybrealv in the morning. The eggs are 

 all of a rusty red colour, and very large for the size of 

 the bird, being genendly three or tlu-ee and a quarter 

 inches long, by two or two and a qiiartor wide. They 

 are very good eating, and are much sought after by the 

 natives. 



Another lai^e and extraordinary bii'd is the Cassowary, 

 which inliabits the island of Ceram only. It is a stout and 

 strong biixl, standing tive or six feet high, and covered with 

 long coai'se black hair-like feathers. The head is orna- 

 mented with a large horny casque or helmet, and the bare 

 skin of the neck is conspicuous with bright blue and red 

 coloars. The wings are quite absent, and are replaceil by 

 a group of horny black spines like blunt porcupine quills. 

 These birds wander about the vast UKumlainous forests that 

 cover the inland ut" Ucriuu, feeding chielly on fallen fruits, 



