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Show MR. J. BRAZIER ON THE EGGS OF MEGAPODES. [NOV. 17, Whitmee said, " From further inquiries made respecting this bird, I feel convinced that it burrows, and that it feeds and goes about chiefly at night. It is certain that it was common in Samoa formerly; but those who knew it when it was plentiful, have nearly all died out." The following communication was read from Sir Victor Brooke, Bart, F.Z.S.:- "In the P. Z. S. 1872, p. 690, Dr. Sclater identifies a deer living in the Society's Menagerie with Cervus savannarum (Cab.), which species is represented in European Museums by one solitary specimen, the type, at Berlin. It appears to me that Dr. Sclater is mistaken in this identification. In the first place the deer in the Society's Gardens is a very much larger animal than the true C. savannarum, as will be shown by the following measurements taken from the type specimen in Berlin:- inches. Height at shoulder 26^ Length from point of shoulder to the ischial extremity of the haunch 29 Length of face from between the horns to the tip of the nose 7g Horns (length) 9| In the true C. savannarum there is no sign whatever of the tarsal gland, whereas in the Society's specimen the position of this gland is marked by a very conspicuous white tuft, well shown in Mr. Keuleman's drawing (P. Z. S. 1872, pi. lix.). In this latter specimen the horns bear several long tines on their posterior surface, closely resembling in this respect and in their general character those of C. virginianus. In the true C. savannarum, as exemplified by the single specimen known, the horns bear only one long tine, which is but very little smaller than the part of the beam anterior to it, thus more approaching C. macrotis and C. columbianus; small brow-antlers arise from the beams, a little above the burrs, projecting inwards. In colour the Berlin specimen differs considerably from that in the Gardens. A series of eggs of Megapodes (Megapodius) transmitted by Mr. John Brazier, C.M.Z.S., was exhibited and the following notes on them read :- "I send 24 eggs of a species, or of various species, of Megapode, of which 14 are from Savu or Galera or Russell Island, 1 from Treasury Island, and 9 from New Britain, all islands of the Solomons group. I also send one bird in spirits, which was hatched on board ship August 21, and died Sept. 8, 1872; this bird was from a Savu egg. The natives bring these eggs off for sale to passing ships by the thousand, and at the same time eat the eggs raw. I have eaten the eggs when boiled, but do not much care for them, as they have a raw-potato-like |