14 
THE CONDOR 
| Vol. VIII 
rocky island north of Cabo Fngano. I am sure I saw two species of Tubinares on 
this occasion; one was certainly a shearwater and the other, a larger bird, was 
probably an albatross, but neither came near enough for a shot. 
We were in high hopes of reaching Camiguin before noon and those of my 
readers who have worked islands from a sail boat will realize how easily and re- 
peatedly these hopes may be destroyed. We beat about nearly the whole day 
but Camiguin came no nearer, in fact I believe we lost on each tack. At 4 p. m. 
the weather began to get squally and the old man at the helm said that we had 
better make for the lea of Fuga where there was protection and a good landing. 
I told him to put about; as he did so a squall struck us and the main boom got 
mixed with the after deck house causing our boat to list so that she took water like 
a tub. The old man did well however, and got her running before the breeze 
while all hands turned to and bailed for their lives. I was throwing some water 
myself when behind me 1 heard, “Santo, Santo,” and looking around saw our 
“pilot” on his knees, shaking so he could scarcely pray. I asked what he was 
doing there and he said: “No matter, you go on bailing; I am too sick.” By 
great good luck our stores and outfit were not seriously damaged and before mid- 
night we were in quiet water. The next morning we landed on a protected 
coral sand beach. 
There are very few trees on Fuga and none of them is large; this with the 
fact that the island is small precludes the possibility of an extensive avian fauna. 
Two species are particularly interesting; one is Hypsipetcs fugensis , mentioned 
above as the only Philippine representative of its genus; the other is Cinnyris 
whiteheadi which was first found in Luzon where it is much rarer than on Fuga. 
Two other species are very abundant on Fuga and altho they are not of much 
interest to the collector they are welcomed by the camp cook. I refer to the wild 
chicken and the megapode. 
The first of these is generally considered to be eonspecific with the Indian 
jungle fowl, the wild stock of our barnyard friend. This is Ga/lus gallus of most 
authors, or Gallus bankiva of those who object to the use of tautonyms. This bird 
is known from nearly all the Philippine Islands where collections have been made 
and it is particularly abundant on some of the smaller islands. On Fuga we found 
it commoner than on any other island I have visited. I do not believe that this 
species in its wild state is polygamous to so great a degree as are the domesticated 
varieties. It is unusual to see more than one hen with a cock; on Fuga I saw 
many pairs and but once a flock consisting of three hens and one cock. Another 
time I mistook a yellow-legged rooster for a wild bird and brought him down; my 
boys got him into the pot at once and considered it a good joke on the owner of 
the bird rather than on me. Before seeing this bird in his native land I had an 
idea that the famed jungle fowl afforded good sport, but as the birds seldom come 
out of the woods or thickets and usually run when in the open there is no sport in 
killing them. '1 he female makes her nest on the ground beneath a small shrub. 
The eggs of the wild Gallus are much smaller than is usual with the domestic 
breeds and are dark cream in color. I have seen small chicks in February and 
in May. 
The “tabon” or mound builder (Meg apod ius cumingi) is a relative of the jun- 
gle fowl but of considerably different habits and appearance altho of similar size. 
The skin of the head and upper neck is more or less bare and of a dark reddish 
or brownish color; the remainder of the body is well feathered and its general color 
is warm brown; the wings and tail are short; the legs are large and powerful and 
