1895. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 537 



Family MELIPHAGID.E. 



42. ZOSTEROPS ALDABRENSIS, Ridgway. 



Zosterops (ildahreusis, Rir)(;w.\.Y, Proc. II. S. Nat. Mus., XVII, ISitl. p. 371 (Aldabra 

 Lslaud; U.S.N.M.V 



Specijie chamcfers. — Similar to Z. ijalpchrosa (Temmiiick), but sni)ra- 

 loral region (sides of foreliead) distinctly orange-yellowisli, iiuder i)arts 

 with yellow of chest extending farther backward and tinging the median 

 line of the belly ; chest and sides less tinged with gray (some specimens 

 having instead a faint brownish wash), and under tail-coverts very dif- 

 ferent in color from chest (varying from maize- to chrome-yellow, the 

 throat being canary yellow). 



jya?>i7o/.— Aldabra Island. (Type, Ko. 128702, U.S.X.IM., jnale adult, 

 Aldabra Island, October 3, 1802; Dr. W. L. Abbott.) 



Measurements of type. — Length (before skinning), 4.25 inches; wing, 

 2.12; tail, 1.G2; exposed culmen, 0.3.5; tarsus, 0.70; middle toe, 0.37. 

 "Upper mandible black; lower leaden; feet leaden; irides light brown." 

 (Abbott, MS.) 



"'A very common, active little bird, generally keeping in the thick 

 jungle and constantly hopping abont the branches. Found in flocks of 

 twenty to thirty and very fond of the seeds of the casuarina tree. One 

 nest was taken in October, but they breed plentifully in December. 

 The nest is neatly constructed of bark fiber and casuarina needles, 

 usually x>laced in a bush six feet from the ground in thick jungle. Two 

 pale green eggs are laid." (Abbott, MS.) 



Family CORVID^.. 



43. CORVUS SCAPULATUS, Daudin. 



Two specimens, October 30 and November 1. 



"!Not common on either Aldabra or Assumption. Shyer and more 

 wary than any other bird on these islands. Plentiful on Gloriosa 

 Island, where they are very destructive to the eggs of 'boobies' and 

 other birds." (Abbott, MS.) 



Family DICRURID.E. 



44. BUCHANGA ALDABRANA, Ridgway. 



I>ucha))fia nldahrana, Ridoway, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns.,XVI, 1893, p. r>97 (Alilaljra 

 Islaufl; U.S.N.M.). 



Specific characters. — Differing from 7>. a^/vi. (Hermann) in larger and 

 more stro7igly hooked bill, niucth longer nasal plumes (reaching half 

 way from nostrils to tip of bill), much narrower rectrices, and in the 

 \'ery pale coloration of the female. 



r^^K^— No. 128719, IT. S.N. M., adult male, Aldabra Island, October 8, 

 1892; Dr. W. L.Abbott: Entirely black, glossed with greenish blue, the 



