246 
APPENDIX. 
4000 feet. It was extremely difficult to obtain specimens owing to the impossibility of getting about in 
the parts frequented by these birds. Besides, no doubt, the rat-trapping Dusuns have had something to 
do with their rarity. 
Iris greenish brown; bill black ; skin round eye dull pink, that on throat brighter ; legs salmon- 
pink.] 
283. Arborophila charltoni (Eyton). 
[Native name “ Lenticong.”] 
284. Rollulus rottloul (Scop.). 
285. Escalfacxoria chinensis (L.). 
[Common in open plains, and found on Kina Balu up to 1000 feet. These birds nest in the 
“ lalang ’’-grass plains, and lay five or six dark olive-green eggs, which are speckled all over with black 
and dark-brown spots; axis 1 inch, diam. *85. I found a nest in the middle of February, and have seen 
them in other months. 
Feet orange-yellow; iris lake-brown ; bill black.] 
Family Megapodiid^:. 
286. Megapodius cumingi, JDillwyn. 
[On most of the small islands round the coast of Borneo this Megapode, of which the native name is 
“ Menambun,” is very plentiful. It never seems to frequent the country more than a few hundred yards 
inland, but prefers the loose sandy soil close to the sea, where it can scratch up those huge mounds which 
so often attract one’s attention when walking near the sea-coast. 
Whilst in Palawan I had a good opportunity of watching these birds, for they were very plentiful, 
June to August being their nesting-months. The old birds are difficult to see, owing to their dull 
brown colour. They are very shy and generally run off long before you are near them. Their note is a 
most doleful Mow,” exactly like a cat in distress, and is heard many times towards evening, adding to 
the melancholy of the forest. 
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 5J 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 buried so deep that with our small implements 
(a cocoa-nut shell) we found it impossible to get at them. The eggs are often placed amongst the roots 
of a tree, and this makes them very difficult to get at. A good many green leaves are plucked and 
placed in the hole, and amongst these the egg is laid. The leaves would ferment and so assist in hatching 
the eggs, which are of a pale salmon-colour with a chalky surface, which is easily chipped off. The 
Dusuns make regular egging-expeditions, and often brought the eggs to me, to be exchanged for two or 
three smokes of tobacco. 
The young bird’s early life is to me a mystery. It may be dug out of the heap fully fledged and 
ready to fly. I sent one home with my collection which might pass for an adult bird of another species; 
but this bird had never seen the daylight until we dug it out ; none of the feathers had soft shafts or 
seemed in any way new. Tbe young are neither fed nor looked after by their parents, which, as they are 
of all ages, would be difficult. They generally squat until you are within 15 yards or so and then take 
wing like a Quail, never running out of danger like the old birds.] 
