( ^44 ) 



L'. The onn> <if' these northern islauJs ditlers remarkably t'njm tliat of the 

 New Georgia, or central gruuji, as we may cull it. 



iS. The fanua of the islands of this central group — i.e. the islands of (Mmi, 

 or Guizo, Kulambangra, Hendova, and New Georgia — is generally the same ; only 

 iu a very few cases rej)resentative forms are found on these islands, wliile nearly 

 always (except when the same forms are spread over tiie wiiole, or nearly the whole, 

 archipelago) the forms from the northern chain, as well as those finm (iuadalcanar, 

 differ from those of the central group. 



4. We can thus distinguish the following geographical group.i of islands iu 

 the Solomon Arehi]ielago : 



(a) The northern chain (Bougainville, Choiseul, Isabel). 



(4) The central group (New Georgia, Kulambangra, Gizo, Uendova). 



((■) The Guadalcanar group ((Iuadalcanar and Florida). 



((■/) The southern group (.San (Jliristoval, Ugij. 



The large islands of RIalaita and Rennel, as well as mauy smaller, less 

 important islets, remain iinkuowu, but we hope that collections from some of 

 them will reach us before long, as well as from San Oristoval, which has many 

 very distinct birds, not yet represented in the Tring Museum. 



Mr. Meek is to be congratulated on haviug achieved a visit to Choiseul 

 and Bougainville, which are probably aruong the most difficult islands to visit, 

 on account of the want of communication and the hostility of the natives, and 

 we hope that he will long continue his successful explorations of the islands 

 of the Papuan Region. 



1. Megapodius duperreyii eremita Hartl. 



l-Mei/apudius duptrmjii Lesson & Garn., Bull. Si:i. Xat. viii p. ll.i (1820 — Dorej).] 

 Megapodiiis eremita Hart!., P. Z. S., 1867, p. 830 (Echiquier Is.). 



3 c?c?, 2 ??, Eendova, February and March 1904 (Nos. A. 1214, 12U4, 

 1333, 1345, 1380). 



" Iris hazel (brown) : feet black (greenish slate) ; bill dull yellow (yellowish)." 

 1 pull, Choiseul, 8. xii. 1903 (No. A. 892). 



1 J, 3 ??, 1 pull, Bougainville, April and May 1904 (Nos. A. 1519, 1533, 

 1656, 1715, 1765). 



An egg from Choiseul is of a vinaceous flesh-colour, and measures 81-5 x 

 oOo mm. 



2. Ptilinopus superba (Temm.). 



Cuhimba siijierhii Temmirick, in Knip, /,(',« I'ii/eniis^ p. 75, pi. 3:5 (ISll — 



•2 6S, New Georgia, March, 1904 (Nos. A. 139(5, 1432). 



2 SS, Reudova, February and March 1904 (Nos. A. 1348, 1473). 

 1 (?, 1 ?, Choisenl, December 1903 (Nos. A. 1002, 1031). 



4 (?(J, 2 ? ?, r.ongainviiie, April 1904 (Nos. A. 1491, 152.0, 159ii, ]V,:>V,, 1(;62, 

 1U72). 



"Iris yellow (pale yellowish); feet imridish red: bill, S green-slate 

 (slate ?).■' " 



An egg was taken oh Ch.iiseul ou .January IKli, 19m|. It is very smooth, 

 though without gloss, of a milky while, and measures 32 x 210 mm. 



