82 
ropes near the fire. Its note is exceedingly plaintive, similar to, 
but softer than, that of the turtle-dove of Europe.” 
Genus Macropygia. 
A genus the members of which are distributed over India, Java, 
New Guinea, Ceram, the Moluccas, Australia, &c. Only one species, 
M. Phasianella , has yet been found in the last-mentioned country, 
but others may be discovered when its eastern and northern parts 
have been more fully explored. 
438. Macropygia Phasianella Vol. V. PI. 75. 
The interior of the dense brushes are the favourite haunts of this 
bird, but it occasionally resorts to the crowns of the low hills and 
the open glades of the forest, where it searches for its food on the 
ground ; on being disturbed it flies to the branches of the nearest 
tree, spreading out its broad tail at the moment of alighting. 
Genus Didunculus. 
Since I drew and described this most anomalous form, under the 
name assigned to it by Sir William Jardine, two important facts 
have been ascertained respecting it, viz. that it is identical with the 
bird described by Mr. Titian Peale of America under the name of 
Didunculus , and that the Samoan Islands and not Australia is its 
true habitat. » 
Didunculus strigirostris. 
439. Gnathodon strigirostris, Jard Vol. V. Pi. 76. 
Family MEGAPODIDiE. 
The genera Tcdegalla , Leipoa and Megapodius form part of a 
great family of birds inhabiting Australia, New Guinea, the Celebes, 
and the Philippine Islands, whose habits and economy are most 
singular and differ from those of every other group of birds which 
now exists upon the surface of our globe. In their structure they 
are most nearly allied to the Gallinacecc , while in some of their 
actions and in their mode of flight they much resemble the jRallidcc', 
the small size of their brain, coupled with the extraordinary means 
employed for the incubation of their eggs, indicates an extremely 
low degree of organization. 
The three species of the family inhabiting Australia, although 
referable to three distinct genera, have many habits in common, 
particularly in their mode of nidification— each and all depositing 
their eggs in mounds of earth and leaves, which, becoming heated 
either by the fermentation of the vegetable matter, or by the sun’s 
rays, form a kind of natural hatching-apparatus, from which the 
young at length emerge fully feathered, and capable of sustaining 
life by their own unaided efforts. 
Genus Talegalla. 
440. Talegalla Lathami .... 
. Vol. V. PI. 77. 
