36 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.64. 



smaller than the male. The female from Australia referred to above 

 measures: Wing, 194; tail, 84; culmen, 36.5; tarsus, 32; middle- 

 toe, 37. 



65. NYROCA AUSTRALIS (Eyton). 



One male, Rano Lindoe, March 26, 1917. 



This is an extension of the range of this species to the northward. 

 "When compared with Australian examples, the above specimen is 

 much darker on the head and back and the primaries are more exten- 

 sively white on the inner web with little or no drab shading, except 

 on the outer primary and even then it is not so pronounced. It evi- 

 dently represents a breeding form which for the present is best not 

 named until more material can be examined. 



Band on forward part of bill almost white in life. — H. C. R. 



Family ANHINGIDAE. 



DARTERS. 

 66. ANHINGA MELANOGASTER Pennant. 



Two males, Rano Lindoe, February 24, and March 26, 1917. 

 Family FREGATIDAE. 



MAN-O'-WAR-BIRDS. 

 67. FREGATA ARIEL ARIEL (Gray). 



One male, Toeriboeloe, December 16, 1916. 



I have no Australian specimens available but have a male from the 

 Amirante group, Seychelles, taken August 29 {Fregata ariel 

 iredalei)^ and a male from Makemo, Paumotu Islands. From the 

 former, the Celebes bird differs in being much glossier above and on 

 the wing-coverts, the lanceolate feathers on the head and back being 

 a dusky bluish-green with purplish reflections in certain lights, the 

 lesser wing-coverts bronzy-green, while in the Amirante specimen 

 there is little gloss above, the lanceolate feathers of the head and 

 back being a dull black with only a slight greenish sheen, and the 

 feathers of the back with a subterminal band of iridescent purple; 

 the lesser wing-coverts dull black with little bronzy green. The 

 Celebes skin has a larger and heavier bill. The Paumotu bird when 

 compared with that of Celebes, is duller, the lanceolate feathers of 

 the mantle with more of a steely purple gloss. It more closely re- 

 sembles the Celebes specimen than that from Amirante as was natur- 

 ally to be expected. The bills of the three specimens measure as 

 follows : 



Celebes, culmen, 91 ; width at base, 28. 



Paumotu, culmen, 88.5 ; width at base, 23. 



Amirante, culmen, 85 ; width at base, 24. 



