REPORT ON THE BIRDS — TONGA, THE FIJIS, API, AND TAHITI. 43 



No. 99. Kandavu. Female. Shot August 6. 



No. 100. 



Male. 



] 



5. Cuculus simus, Peale. 



Cucidus simus, F. and H, Ornith. Central-Polyn., p. 28; Layard, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1875, 

 p. 426 ; Finsch, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1877, p. 729. 



[No. 90. Kandavu. Upper inaudible and margin of lower black, base of the under 

 flesh-colour or reddish ; eyes dull orange ; feet yellow ; stomach contained parts of bettles 

 and caterpillars. Shot August 6.] 



As this Cuckoo is only a migratory visitor to the Fiji group, it would be of interest 

 to ascertain whither it resorts after leaving the islands, which at present are the only 

 locality known for the species. Professor Schlegel seems wrong in uniting it with the 

 Australian Cuculus flabelliformis, Lath., which seems to be a rather larger bird, as is also 

 Cuculus bronzinus, Gray, of New Caledonia, which otherwise agrees nearly in coloration. 

 Mr Gould has since described a Cuckoo (Cacomantis castaneiventris, B. of Austr., 

 Suppl., pi. lv.) from Queensland, which, judging from the plate (apparently a little 

 exaggerated in colour), comes very near to Cuculus simus, but is smaller (wings 4 inches 

 2 lines). 



Our Cuculus infuscatus (Orn. Central-Polyn., p. 31,taf. v. fig. 1), corresponding in size 

 exactly with Cuculus simus, will probably turn out to be a melanistic phase of the latter. 



6. Hirundo tahitica, Gm. 



Hirundo tahitica, F. and H., Ornith. Central-Polyn., p. 51 ; Layard, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1875, 



p. 430; Finsch, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1877, p. 730. 

 Hirundo sub/usca, Gould. 



[No. 45. Matuka. Female. 

 No. 46. 

 Eyes black. 



