dentally got a glimpse of, had either flown or fled away without
giving him as much as the chance of a snap shot.

At night they again heard the stridulous clamour of the maleos, and
every morning looked out for them; but these fine fowls did not put in
another appearance, much less deposit three dozen eggs right under their
eyes, and in a convenient spot for being gathered.

Saloo, however, who knew all about their habits, believed he might yet
find another ovarium; and with this view, on the morning of the third
day, after giving up all further attempts at getting shell-fish, he
started upon a "prospecting" expedition after eggs, the others going
with him.

Their route led along the shore, and among the dry sand-wreaths, swirled
up near the selvedge of the woods. If another egg depository existed,
it was there it should be found. He told his companions that not only
did different gangs of the maleos bury their eggs in different places,
but the same tribe or flock had the habit of returning to the beach at
different times, each time laying their collected eggs in a new and
separate pit. That, moreover, these curious birds, guided by instinct
or cunning, are accustomed to conceal the place of deposit, which might
be easily recognised by their tracks and scratchings. This they do by
scoring the ground in other places, and giving to the surface the same
appearance as it bears over the spot where their eggs have been left to
the hatching of the sun.

In this searching excursion Saloo had brought with him a boat-hook; and
it was not long before he had an opportunity of proving the truth of his
words. A place where the sand was very much tracked by the huge feet of
the megapodes soon presented itself, exactly resembling the spot where
they had procured the first supply of eggs. But on probing it with the
boat-hook, Saloo at once pronounced it one of the sham nests.

After all, the creatures did not show too much cunning; for the presence
of this pretended place of deposit told the Malay that a real one would
not be far off; and, sure enough, another was soon after discovered,
which, on being sounded by the iron point of the boat-hook, gave back a
firm feel and a sharp metallic click, that told him there were eggs
underneath.

The sand as before, was carefully removed--Murtagh having brought with
him an oar for the purpose--when, for the second time, nearly three
dozen beautiful salmon-coloured eggs were disclosed