( -^50 ) 



P. smaragdimis cannot be used for our bird. The next oldest name in Sharpe's 

 synonymy is P. vitiensis Peale. This apj)lies to the Fiji form, and as that seems to 

 dififer, at least subspecifically, from our birds, it cannot be strictly ajiplied to them, so 

 that P. mdanoptenis Bp.,* or more likely P. vitiensis melanopterus, will in future be 

 the proper nomenclature of this form. W. K. 



Woodlark Islaud. 

 Fergusson Island. 



75. Esacus magnirostris Geoff. 



76. Squatarola helvetica (,!-.). 



77. Totauus hypoleucus (I-). 



Fergusson and Trobriands. 



78. Demiegretta sacra ((im.). 



Kiriwiua, Trobriand Islands, Woodlark Island. " Iris pale yellow." 



79. Tadorna radjah ((iarn.). 

 Fergusson Island. " Iris hazel.'' 



80. Megapodius macgillivrayi Gray. 



Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, where these birds were common. " The iris is 

 hazel." The pullus is brown below ; throat and abdomen lighter, and tinged with 

 rusty rufous. Dark brown above; interscapular region tinged with slaty olive, rump 

 with deep rufous; secondaries, wing-coverts, and scapulars barred wit li light rusty- 

 brown . 



The eggs vary somewhat in colour, some being more rufous, some paler, some 

 more brownish, but pure white when the coloured upper surface is rubbed oft" or comes 

 off" through decay. Some regular ones and two smaller varieties measure S-1 : 56, 

 93 : 55, 87-5 : 55, 95 : 55, 83 : 54-5, 896 : 51 mm. E. 11. 



81. Micranous leucocapillus (Gould). 

 Egum and \\'oodlark Islands. 



82. Sterna bergii Licht. 



Woodlark Island. Wing 350 mm. 



83. Sterna dougalli ;Mont. 



(? ad. Woodlark Island, August 3rd. ^\ ing 216 mm. 



It may be useful for persons working with Mr. Saunders' key to the species of 

 tlie genus Sterna (Cat. B. XXV. p. 41) to state that there must be a mistake in tlie 

 line " «'. Size larger ; wing never less than 95 in." In the description of Sterna 

 dougalli, p. 73, the wing is given 9"25, though this species falls under a' in the key. 

 In fact the wing of Sterna dougalli is not merely 9'25, as gi\'en (evidently from one 

 skin) in the description, but about S'3 to 9'5 in. It is a custom very convenient to 

 the writer, and very much in use among the best ornithologists, to describe and 

 raea.sure one typical specimen ; but this practice is most inconvenient for the student 

 u.sing their books. E. H. 



^\V• append lists of the species sent from each island. Forms described as new 

 • Tcmra. is not tlic author. 



