OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 141 



scapulars green, mesially shaded with bluish green, forming 

 speculae ; rump, and upper tail coverts of a duller tinge of 

 green. 



Total length, 8| inches; bill, 0*6 inch; wing, 53 inches; 

 tail, 3 inches; tarsus, 0*9 inch; bare portion, about 2 inch. 

 Bill and feet greenish grey. 



This variety — as both the birds I have examined show the 

 same characteristics —may eventually prove to belong to a distinct 

 species, and if such be the case, I propose for it the name of P. 

 whitmeei, in honor of its discoverer. 



Collocalia spodiopygia, from Samoan Islands. 



These specimens do not differ from the Fiji individuals, except 

 perhaps in being a trifle smaller, they nest in caves, 

 glueing together fibrous roots, grass, or the leaves of the 

 Casuarince, and fastening their nests to the roofs, sides, or ledges 

 of the rocks. The eggs are white, and about the size and shape 

 of the red eye-browed finch, Estrilda temporalis. 



Among the Meliphagidae there is nothing of note, except 

 perhaps some fine males of Myzomela nigriventris, and two of the 

 large Leptomis samoaensis. There is a Campephaga agreeing 

 well with the Lanius Karu of Lesson, not having any rufous 

 tinge on any part. Also an Aplonis both from Savage 

 Island. 



A fine Kingfisher (^Halcyon sacra), from Tutuilla, which 

 makes me doubt that the birds from Fiji belong to this same 

 species. The bird is apparently quite adult, the head, the whole 

 of the neck, throat, and all the under surface white, ear- 

 coverts and a narrow collar round the back of the neck blue 

 separated from the back by a broad band of white ; feathers on the 

 crown of the head tipped with blue and margined or tipped here 

 and there with light rufous or yellowish, several of the feathers 

 on the broad white band over the eye, and a few on the back of 

 the neck, also tinged irregularly with yellowish ; the upper surface 

 of the wings and tail dark blue, the scapulars and back blue 

 tinged with green ; under wing and tail-coverts white, inner webs 



