Birds of Celebes: Megapodidae. 
673 
identity with Philippine 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. Ogilvi e-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 difier 
from a North Bornean example, which is much browner below and seems to 
have a longer, thinner bill. Sangi and Talaut birds (M. sangirensis) 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 nicoharica, 
it appears to be more plentiful on the neighbouring small islands, probably 
because Crocodiles, Lizards, 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 5 V 2 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 
Veyer * Wigleswortli, Birds of Celebes (Nov. 24th, 1S07). 85 
