TOWNSEND AND WETMORE : THE BIRDS. 201 



at Vavau, 4 December. The bird from Niue has the tips of the breast 

 feathers entirely worn away. 



55. CoLLOCALiA THESPESiA Oberholser. 



Collocalia thespesia Oberholser, Proc. Acad. nat. sci. Philad., 1906, p. 195 

 (Tahiti). 



The type of this species, a female, was collected at Tahiti, Society 

 Islands, 14 November, 1899. 



56. Collocalia ocista Oberholser. 



CoUocalia ocista Oberholser, Proc. Acad. nat. Sci. Philad., p. 184. (Nuku- 

 hiva) . 



Two specimens (including the type) were secured at Nukuhiva, 

 16 September, and one at Tahiti, 13 November. The bird from 

 Tahiti, a male, has the breast feathers much worn. 



HIRUNDINIDAE. 



57. Hypurolepis tahitica (Gmelin). 



Hirundo tahitica Gmelin, Syst. nat., 1789, 1, p. 2, p. 1016. (Tahiti). 



Three were taken on Nomuka, Tonga Islands, 2 December. 

 Only one of these, an adult female, has the sex indicated without 

 question. The remaining two are immature birds that differ from the 

 adult in having the chestnut of the forehead faintly indicated anteriorly 

 and obsolete behind. In addition the blue-black spots on the under 

 tail coverts are lacking, and in one bird there are faintly indicated pale 

 margins on the feathers of the back. This species is known from the 

 Tonga Islands but has not been reported from Nomuka previously. 

 The large, broadened bill, characteristic of the genus Hypurolepis 

 Gould, reaches its maximum development in this species, and appears 

 remarkably strong and heav'y for a swallow. 



MUSCICAPIDAE. 



Haplornis, nom. nov. 



The name Muscylva Lesson was first proposed in vernacular form 

 in Lesson's Traite d'ornith., 1830; p. 385, with a proper diagnosis. In 



