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The Megapodidae are a small family of birds found only in Australia and the surrounding islands； but extending as far as the Philippines and Northwest Borneo。 They are allied to the gallinaceous birds； but differ from these and from all others in never sitting upon their eggs； which they bury in sand； earth； or rubbish； and leave to be hatched by the heat of the sun or by fermentation。 They are all characterised by very large feet and long curved claws； and most of the species of Megapodius rake and scratch together all kinds of rubbish； dead leaves； sticks； stones； earth； rotten wood； etc。； until they form a large mound； often six feet high and twelve feet across； in the middle of which they bury their eggs。 The natives can tell by the condition of these mounds whether they contain eggs or not； and they rob them whenever they can； as the brick…red eggs （as large as those of a swan） are considered a great delicacy。 A number of birds are said to join in making these mounds and lay their eggs together； so that sometimes forty or fifty may be found。 The mounds are to be met with here and there in dense thickets； and are great puzzles to strangers； who cannot understand who can possibly have heaped together cartloads of rubbish in such out…of…the…way places； and when they inquire of the natives they are but little wiser； for it almost always appears to them the wildest romance to be told that it is all done by birds。 The species found in Lombock is about the size of a small hen； and entirely of dark olive and brown tints。 It is a miscellaneous feeder； devouring fallen fruits； earthworms； snails； and centipedes； but the flesh is white and well…flavoured when properly cooked。
The large green pigeons were still better eating； and were much more plentiful。 These fine birds； exceeding our largest tame pigeons in size； abounded on the palm…trees； which now bore huge bunches of fruitsmere hard globular nuts； about an inch in diameter； and covered with a dry green skin and a very small portion of pulp。 Looking at the pigeon's bill and head； it would seem impossible that it could swallow such large masses； or that it could obtain any nourishment from them； yet I often shot these birds with several palm…fruits in the crop； which generally burst when they fell to the ground。 I obtained here eight species of Kingfishers； among which was a very beautiful new one； named by Mr。 Gould； Halcyon fulgidus。 It was found always in thickets； away from water； and seemed to feed on snails and insects picked up from the ground after the manner of the great Laughing Jackass of Australia。 The beautiful little violet and orange species （Ceyx rufidorsa） is found in similar situations； and darts rapidly along like a flame of fire。 Here also I first met with the pretty Australian Bee…eater （Merops ornatus）。 This elegant little bird sits on twigs in open places； gazing eagerly around； and darting off at intervals to seize some insect which it sees flying near； returning afterwards to the same twig to swallow it。 Its long； sharp； curved bill； the two long narrow feathers in its tail； its beautiful green plumage varied with rich brown and black and vivid blue on the throat； render it one of the most graceful and interesting objects a naturalist can see for the first time。
Of all the birds of Lombock； however； I sought most after the beautiful ground thrushes （Pitta concinna）； and always thought myself lucky if I obtained one。 They were found only in the dry plains densely covered with thickets； and carpeted at this season with dead leaves。 They were so shy that it was very difficult to get a shot at them； and it was only after a good deal of practice that I discovered low to do it。 The habit of these birds is to hop about on the ground； picking up insects； and on the least alarm to run into the densest thicket or take a flight close to the ground。 At intervals they utter a peculiar cry of two notes which when once heard is easily recognised； and they can also be heard hopping along among the dry leaves。
My practice was； therefore； to walk cautiously along the narrow pathways with which the country abounded； and on detecting any sign of a Pitta's vicinity to stand motionless and give a gentle whistle occasionally； imitating the notes as near as possible。 After half an hour's waiting I was often rewarded by seeing the pretty bird hopping along in the thicket。 Then I would perhaps lose sight of it again； until leaving my gun raised and ready for a shot； a second glimpse would enable me to secure my prize； and admire its soft puffy plumage and lovely colours。 The upper part is rich soft green； the head jet black with a stripe of blue and brown over each eye； at the base of the tail and on the shoulders are bands of bright silvery blue； the under side is delicate buff with a stripe of rich crimson； bordered with black on the belly。 Beautiful grass…green doves； little crimson and black flower… peckers； large black cuckoos； metallic king…crows； golden orioles； and the fine jungle…cocksthe origin of all our domestic breeds of poultrywere among the birds that chiefly attracted my attention during our stay at Labuan Tring。
The most characteristic feature of the jungle was its thorniness。 The shrubs were thorny； the creepers were thorny； the bamboos even were thorny。 Everything grew zigzag and jagged； and in an inextricable tangle； so that to get through the bush with gun or net or even spectacles； was generally not to be done； and insect… catching in such localities was out of the question。 It was in such places that the Pittas often lurked； and when shot it became a matter of some difficulty to secure the bird； and seldom without a heavy payment of pricks and scratches and torn clothes could the prize be won。 The dry volcanic soil and arid climate seem favourable to the production of such stunted and thorny vegetation； for the natives assured me that this was nothing to the thorns and prickles of Sumbawa whose surface still bears the covering of volcanic ashes thrown out forty years ago by the terrible eruption of Tomboro。
Among the shrubs and trees that are not prickly the Apocynaceae were most abundant； their bilobed fruits of varied form and colour and often of most tempting appearance； hanging everywhere by the waysides as if to invite to destruction the weary traveller who may be unaware of their poisonous properties。 One in particular with a smooth shining skin of a golden orange colour rivals in appearance the golden apples of the Hesperides； and has great attractions for many birds； from the white cockatoos to the little yellow Zosterops； who feast on the crimson seeds which are displayed when the fruit bursts open。 The great palm called 〃Gubbong〃 by the natives； a species of Corypha； is the most striking feature of the plains； where it grows by thousands and appears in three different statesin leaf； in flower and fruit； or dead。 It has a lofty cylindrical stem about a hundred feet high and two to three feet in diameter； the leaves are large and fan…shaped； and fall off when the tree flowers； which it does only once in its life in a huge terminal spike； upon which are produced masses of a smooth round fruit of a green colour rind about an inch in diame