112 DESCRIPTIOJT OF FIJIAX BIRDS EGGS, 



at about three rows of scales beliind the eye, its upper branch at 

 1 1 scales, and the lower branch at about 8 scales from the lower 

 «ye ; the lateral line extends over 120 scales from the upper 

 branch to the tail; no pectoral fins; body scales with 8 to 10 

 spines ; width of the interorbital space less than the diameter of 

 the eye ; mouth very small, opening to below the centre of the 

 orbit. The greatest height is about the centre of the body, and 

 is 2i in the total length, without caudal ; the head is five times 

 in the same, without caudal, and 2^ times in the height. The 

 breadth of the tail at the base is 1 j times in its length. Colour 

 light brown, covered with irregular wavy narrow transverse bands 

 of a dark tint, 35 or more in number, with irregular interspaces, 

 some of the lines confluent, others in regular waves. Length of 

 specimen 3 inches, without caudal; tail 0"6 inch. 



Sab. Freshwater, Hunter Eiver. 



This specimen was presented to the Museum by His Honor 

 Judge Windeyer, in 1875. Type in the Australian Museum. 



Description of the Eggs of Five Species of Fijian Birds. 



By E. p. Eamsay, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. 



My friend. Mr. A. Boyd, has forwarded me some rare eggs of 

 Fijian birds, which I believe have not hitherto been described. 



1. ViTiA RXJFiCAPALLA, Ramsay. 



(Drymochsera badiceps, Finsch.) 



The Qg^ of this interesting species is of a rich chocolate red, 

 uniform in tint, and a little brighter than those of Ghthonicola 

 sagittata, which they resemble. Length, 0-75 in. ; breadth, 0'55 

 in. The form is of a long oval. The nest is a dome-shaped 

 structure of grasses, &c., not unlike that of some of the Sericortiis, 

 of the section to which S. pontalis belongs. The eggs are two 

 in number. 



