Contributions to the Natural History of Labuan, and the Adjacent Coasts of Borneo (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ...they become very fat, and their flesh, though rather hard, is well flavoured, and is particularly esteemed for making curry. They build their nests in high trees, and are said to be easily tamed if caught young; their voice resembles the cooing of a tame pigeon, but is rather more guttural; the Malay name is given oil account of their colour, "Rawa Rawa" being the name of a sort of cream-coloured woollen cloth, which is made in China, and fetches a high price in Borneo. Order Oallinae. Fam. Megapodidae. Sub-fam. Megapodinae. Gen. Megapodiue. Megapodius Cumingii. Menamban (Malay name). Olivaceous brown above; blackish slate-colour with a slight olivaceous tinge, below; the feathers on the throat and nape are thinly dispersed, so as to leave that part nearly bare; on the hind head the feathers are somewhat lengthened, forming a kind of crest; bill black at the base, yellowish towards the tip; legs, feet, and claws black; the bare skin about the head is redder in the cockbird than in the hen. Length, from tip of the bill to the end of the tail, about 14 inches. of bill from gape, 1 inch 1 line, of bill from front, 10 lines. of wings, 8 inches, of tail, not quite 3 inches. of tarsus, 2 inches 1 line, of middle toe, 1 inch 11 lines. of hallux, 1 inch 5 lines. The front toes are nearly equal, the middle toe being rather the longest, and the inner one the shortest. Some specimens of these birds are in the British Museum, to which they were presented by Mr. Cuming, having been collected by that gentleman in the Philippine Islands. In Labuan they are not uncommon, and are said to be principally confined to small islands, to such more especially as have sandy beaches; they are very rarely to be seen, being extremely shy and...