l1. Outer and middle toes united for their basal joint; bill broad; eye surrounded by a fleshy wattle; tail graduated ... Eurylæmiformes (p. 410) l2. Outer and middle toes not united; toes four in number; rectrices twelve with rare exceptions; bill variable in shape, never extensively membranous, softly tumid, nor cered ... Passeriformes (p. 413)
Bill short and stout, culmen curved; head small; body heavy; wings short and rounded, curved to the body; tail either very short or greatly elongated; legs moderate to heavy; claws well developed; toes four, slightly webbed at base. Members of this order are terrestrial; their flight is strong and swift but can not be sustained for a long distance. Their food consists of grain, seeds, and insects. The nest is usually a slight hollow in the ground, hidden by grass or brush; the megapodes, however, bury their eggs in mounds.
a1. Hind toe on a level with the other toes; feet and claws very heavy; colors plain, the sexes similar in color ... Megapodii (p. 9) a2. Hind toe slightly elevated; feet and claws moderate in size; sexes very different in color; males much brighter ... Phasiani (p. 11)
Nostrils oval, situated near anterior border of surrounding membrane; bill moderate, culmen curved; orbital area nearly naked; ear-opening small; chin, throat, and face scantily feathered with short plumes, the skin usually red or dusky; legs, feet, and claws very large and powerful; claws slightly curved and usually blunt; anterior face of tarsus bearing a row of large scutes; rectrices short, exceeding coverts but little; sexes alike.
Characters same as those given for the Family.
Megapodius cumingii Dillwyn, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1851), 119, pl. 39. Megapodius pusillus Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1877), 765, pl. 78 (juv.). Megapodius dillwyni Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1877), 766. Megapodius cumingi Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1893), 22, 449; Meyer and Wiglesworth, Birds of Celebes (1898), 2, 671, pl. 41, fig. 1; Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 12; Oates, Cat. Birds' Eggs (1901), 1, 16; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 7.
Ou-cong', Calayan, Camiguin N.; ta-bon', Luzon, Mindoro, Cagayancillo, and in general.
Balabac (Steere, Everett); Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester); Cresta de Gallo (McGregor); Fuga (Whitehead, McGregor); Luzon (Cuming, Heriot, Whitehead); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Mindanao (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow); Mindoro (McGregor, Porter); Palawan (Everett, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Bourns & Worcester, White); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibutu (Everett); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester, Platen); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor). Celebean Islands and islands of northwestern Borneo.