COLLECTED IN NOKTHEHN CELEBES. 
79 
growth about two feet high across a small island, and at 
stated distances they leave openings or « eyes »as they call 
them. The birds have but io fly over this little barrier to 
be safe, but the native knows well enough that they will 
not do this, and so he prepares to take them as they run. 
Over each « eye » in the hedge the sapling is bent; and 
a small inclined platform has to he crossed : round the 
latter the noose is laid; as the Megapode is pulled up 
short by the hedges, instead of flying over the obstacle, 
the bird foolishly skirts along until it comes to an ope¬ 
ning, steps on the platform, which immediately gives 
way, when the noose is set free and the sapling springs 
back, suspending the unfortunate quarry in mid-air by 
the legs. 
The cry of the Megapode is decidedly melancholy, and 
the single note is uttered in monotonous succession. The 
native name is « Menambun » or « Menimbun », the latter 
indicating the constructing of a heap. 
The birds construct a mound in which the eggs are 
deposited. 1 myself, have seen these mounds on Pappan 
and Karaman Islands; they are built out of the reach of 
the tide, where the jungle commences, in such places, 
in fact, where the sand is soft, and the Turtles lay their 
eggs. In digging down for the Megapodes eggs, one gene¬ 
rally finds some rotten logs of drift-wood, which have 
been washed up by the sea during the N. E. Monsoon. 
These form the foundation of the mound, which is com¬ 
posed of dark coloured sand mixed with leaves and twigs 
which fall from the jungle around. As a rule, the mound 
is well sheltered and indeed almost hidden, as the bird 
has many enemies, besides his chief one, in the shape of 
man. 
The nesting season is apparently from September to 
November. 
The mounds are of irregular shape and are determined 
by the character of the neighbouring jungle, according as 
the latter affords suitable material for their construction. 
As far as my experience goes, the mounds are from six 
