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an undulating country skirting the great volcano of Klabat； to a village called Lempias； situated close to the extensive forest that covers the lower slopes of that mountain。 My baggage was carried from village to village by relays of men； and as each change involved some delay； I did not reach my destination （a distance of eighteen miles） until sunset。 I was wet through； and had to wait for an hour in an uncomfortable state until the first installment of my baggage arrived； which luckily contained my clothes； while the rest did not come in until midnight。
This being the district inhabited by that singular annual the Babirusa （Hog…deer）； I inquired about skulls and soon obtained several in tolerable condition； as well as a fine one of the rare and curious 〃Sapiutan〃 （Anoa depressicornis。 Of this animal I had seen two living specimens at Menado； and was surprised at their great resemblance to small cattle； or still more to the Eland of South Africa。 Their Malay name signifies 〃forest ox；〃 and they differ from very small highbred oxen principally by the low… hanging dewlap； and straight； pointed horns which slope back over the neck。 I did not find the forest here so rich in insects as I had expected； and my hunters got me very few birds； but what they did obtain were very interesting。 Among these were the rare forest Kingfisher （Cittura cyanotis）； a small new species of Megapodius； and one specimen of the large and interesting Maleo （Megacephalon rubripes）； to obtain which was one of my chief reasons for visiting this district。 Getting no more； however； after ten days' search； I removed to Licoupang； at the extremity of the peninsula； a place celebrated for these birds； as well as for the Babirusa and Sapiutan。 I found here Mr。 Goldmann； the eldest son of the Governor of the Moluccas； who was superintending the establishment of some Government salt…works。 This was a better locality； and I obtained some fine butterflies and very good birds； among which was one more specimen of the rare ground dove （Phlegaenas tristigmata）； which I had first obtained near the Maros waterfall in South Celebes。
Hearing what I was particularly in search of； Mr。 Goldmann kindly offered to make a hunting…party to the place where the 〃Maleos〃 are most abundant； a remote and uninhabited sea…beach about twenty miles distant。 The climate here was quite different from that on the mountains； not a drop of rain having fallen for four months； so I made arrangements to stay on the beach a week； in order to secure a good number of specimens。 We went partly by boat and partly through the forest； accompanied by the Major or head…man of Licoupang； with a dozen natives and about twenty dogs。 On the way they caught a young Sapi…utan and five wild pigs。 Of the former I preserved the head。 This animal is entirely confined to the remote mountain forests of Celebes and one or two adjacent islands which form part of the same group。 In the adults the head is black； with a white mark over each eye； one on each cheek and another on the throat。 The horns are very smooth and sharp when young； but become thicker and ridged at the bottom with age。 Most naturalists consider this curious animal to be a small ox； but from the character of the horns； the fine coat of hair and the descending dewlap； it seemed closely to approach the antelopes。
Arrived at our destination； we built a but and prepared for a stay of some daysI to shoot and skin 〃Maleos〃； and Mr。 Goldmann and the Major to hunt wild pigs； Babirusa； and Sapi…utan。 The place is situated in the large bay between the islands of Limbe and Banca； and consists of steep beach more than a mile in length； of deep loose and coarse black volcanic sand （or rather gravel）； very fatiguing to walk over。 It is bounded at each extremity by a small river with hilly ground beyond； while the forest behind the beach itself is tolerably level and its growth stunted。 We probably have here an ancient lava stream from the Klabat volcano； which has flowed down a valley into the sea； and the decomposition of which has formed the loose black sand。 In confirmation of this view； it may be mentioned that the beaches beyond the small rivers in both directions are of white sand。
It is in this loose； hot； black sand that those singular birds； the 〃Maleos〃 deposit their eggs。 In the months of August and September； when there is little or no rain； they come down in pairs from the interior to this or to one or two other favourite spots； and scratch holes three or four feet deep； just above high…water mark； where the female deposits a single large egg； which she covers over with about a foot of sandand then returns to the forest。 At the end of ten or twelve days she comes again to the same spot to lay another egg； and each female bird is supposed to lay six or eight eggs during the season。 The male assists the female in making the hole； coming down and returning with her。 The appearance of the bird when walking on the beach is very handsome。 The glossy black and rosy white of the plumage； the helmeted head and elevated tail； like that of the common fowl； give a striking character； which their stately and somewhat sedate walk renders still more remarkable。 There is hardly any difference between the sexes； except that the casque or bonnet at the back of the head and the tubercles at the nostrils are a little larger； and the beautiful rosy salmon colour a little deeper in the male bird； but the difference is so slight that it is not always possible to tell a male from a female without dissection。 They run quickly； but when shot at or suddenly disturbed； take wing with a heavy noisy flight to some neighbouring tree； where they settle on a low branch； and； they probably roost at night in a similar situation。 Many birds lay in the same hole； for a dozen eggs are often found together； and these are so large that it is not possible for the body of the bird to contain more than one fully…developed egg at the same time。 In all the female birds which I shot； none of the eggs besides the one large one exceeded the size of peas； and there were only eight or nine of these； which is probably the extreme number a bird can lay in one season。
Every year the natives come for fifty miles round to obtain these eggs； which are esteemed as a great delicacy； and when quite fresh； are indeed delicious。 They are richer than hens' eggs and of a finer favour； and each one completely fills an ordinary teacup； and forms with bread or rice a very good meal。 The colour of the shell is a pale brick red； or very rarely pure white。 They are elongate and very slightly smaller at one end； from four to four and a half inches long by two and a quarter or two and a half wide。
After the eggs are deposited in the sand； they are no further cared for by the mother。 The young birds； upon breaking the shell； work their way up through the sand and run off at once to the forest； and I was assured by Mr。 Duivenboden of Ternate； that they can fly the very day they are hatched。 He had taken some eggs on board his schooner which hatched during the night； and in the morning the little birds flew readily across the cabin。 Considering the great distances the birds come to deposit the eggs in a proper