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cluding sixteen species； almost all of which are beautiful； end many are among the most brilliantly…coloured birds that exist。
One of the most curious groups of birds； the Megapodii； or mound… makers； is very abundant in the Moluccas。 They are gallinaceous birds； about the size of a small fowl； and generally of a dark ashy or sooty colour； and they have remarkably large and strong feet and long claws。 They are allied to the 〃Maleo〃 of Celebes； of which an account has already been given； but they differ in habits； most of these birds frequenting the scrubby jungles along the sea…shore； where the soil is sandy； and there is a considerable quantity of debris； consisting of sticks； shells； seaweed； leaves； &c。 Of this rubbish the Megapodius forms immense mounds； often six or eight feet high and twenty or thirty feet in diameter； which they are enabled to do with comparative ease； by means of their large feet； with which they can grasp and throw backwards a quantity of material。 In the centre of this mound； at a depth of two or three feet； the eggs are deposited； and are hatched by the gentle heat produced by the fermentation of the vegetable matter of the mound。 When I first saw these mounds in the island of Lombock； I could hardly believe that they were made by such small birds； but I afterwards met with them frequently； and have once or twice come upon the birds engaged in making them。 They run a few steps backwards； grasping a quantity of loose material in one foot； and throw it a long way behind them。 When once properly buried the eggs seem to be no more cared for； the young birds working their way up through the heap of rubbish； and running off at once into the forest。 They come out of the egg covered with thick downy feathers； and have no tail； although the wings are full developed。
I was so fortunate as to discover a new species （Megapodius wallacei）； which inhibits Gilolo； Ternate； and Bouru。 It is the handsomest bird of the genus； being richly banded with reddish brown on the back and wings； and it differs from the other species in its habits。 It frequents the forests of the interior； and comes down to the sea…beach to deposit its eggs； but instead of making a mound； or scratching a hole to receive them； it burrows into the sand to the depth of about three feet obliquely downwards； and deposits its eggs at the bottom。 It then loosely covers up the mouth of the hole； and is said by the natives to obliterate and disguise its own footmarks leading to and from the hole； by making many other tracks and scratches in the neighbourhood。 It lays its eggs only at night； and at Bouru a bird was caught early one morning as it was coming out of its hole； in which several eggs were found。 All these birds seem to be semi…nocturnal； for their loud wailing cries may be constantly heard late into the night and long before daybreak in the morning。 The eggs are all of a rusty red colour； and very large for the size of the bird； being generally three or three and a quarter inches long； by two or two and a quarter wide。 They are very good eating； and are much sought after by the natives。
Another large and extraordinary bird is the Cassowary； which inhabits the island of Ceram only。 It is a stout and strong bird； standing five or six feet high； and covered with long coarse black hair…like feathers。 The head is ornamented with a large horny calque or helmet； and the bare skin of the neck is conspicuous with bright blue and red colours。 The wings are quite absent； and are replaced by a group of horny black spines like blunt porcupine quills。
These birds wander about the vast mountainous forests that cover the island of Ceram； feeding chiefly on fallen fruits； and on insects or crustacea。 The female lays from three to five large and beautifully shagreened green eggs upon a bed of leaves； the male and female sitting upon them alternately for about a month。 This bird is the helmeted cassowary （Casuarius galeatus） of naturalists； and was for a long time the only species known。 Others have since been discovered in New Guinea； New Britain； and North Australia。
It was in the Moluccas that I first discovered undoubted cases of 〃mimicry〃 among birds； and these are so curious that I must briefly describe them。 It will be as well； however； first to explain what is meant by mimicry in natural history。 At page 205 of the first volume of this work； I have described a butterfly which； when at rest； so closely resembles a dead leaf； that it thereby escape the attacks of its enemies。 This is termed a 〃protective resemblance。〃 If however the butterfly； being itself savoury morsel to birds； had closely resembled another butterfly which was disagreeable to birds； and therefore never eaten by them； it would be as well protected as if it resembled a leaf； and this is what has been happily termed 〃mimicry〃 by Mr。 Bates； who first discovered the object of these curious external imitations of one insect by another belonging to a distinct genus or family； and sometimes even to a distinct order。 The clear… winged moth which resemble wasps and hornets are the best examples of 〃mimicry〃 in our own country。
For a long time all the known cases of exact resemblance of one creature to quite a different one were confined to insects； and it was therefore with great pleasure that I discovered in the island of Bouru two birds which I constantly mistook for each other； and which yet belonged to two distinct and somewhat distant families。 One of these is a honeysucker named Tropidorhynchus bouruensis； and the other a kind of oriole； which has been called Mimeta bouruensis。 The oriole resembles the honeysucker in the following particulars： the upper and under surfaces of the two birds are exactly of the same tints of dark and light brown； the Tropidorhynchus has a large bare black patch round the eyes； this is copied in the Mimeta by a patch of black feathers。 The top of the head of the Tropidorhynchus has a scaly appearance from the narrow scale…formed feathers； which are imitated by the broader feathers of the Mimeta having a dusky line down each。 The Tropidorhynchus has a pale ruff formed of curious recurved feathers on the nape （which has given the whole genus the name of Friar birds）； this is represented in the Mimeta by a pale band in the same position。 Lastly； the bill of the Tropidorhynchus is raised into a protuberant keel at the base； and the Mimeta has the same character； although it is not a common one in the genus。 The result is； that on a superficial examination the birds are identical； although they leave important structural differences； and cannot be placed near each other in any natural arrangement。
In the adjacent island of Ceram we find very distinct species of both these genera； and； strange to say； these resemble each other quite as closely as do those of Bouru The Tropidorhynchus subcornutus is of an earthy brown colour； washed with ochreish yellow； with bare orbits； dusky： cheeks； and the usual recurved nape…ruff： The Mimeta forsteni which accompanies it； is absolutely identical in the tints of every part of the body； and the details are copied just as minutely as in the former species。
We have two kinds of evidence to tell us which bird in this case is the model； and which the copy。 The honeysuckers are coloured in a manner which is very general in the whole family to which they belong； while the orioles seem to have departed from the gay yellow tints so common among their allies。 We should therefore conclude that it is the latter who mimic the former。 If so； however； they must derive some advantage from the imitation； and as they are certainly weak birds； with small feet and claws； they may require it。 Now the Tropidorhynchi are very strong and active birds； having powerful grasping claws； and long； curved； sharp beaks。 They assemble together in groups and small flocks； and they haw a very loud bawling note which can be heard at a great distance； and serves to collect a number together in time of danger。 They are very plentiful and very pugnacious； frequently driving away crows and even hawks； which perch on a tree where a few of them are assembled。 It is very probable； therefore； that the smaller birds of prey have learnt to respect these bird