278 M. F. Pollen on the Genus Oxynotus. 



giiious. Rectrices dull brown, more or less broadly tipped with 

 white. Bill brownish-black ; legs dark lead-colour. 



The differences thus pointed out are more clearly visible in the 

 accompanying plates (Plates VII. and VIII.), wherein the birds 

 from the two islands are represented at one-half their natural size. 

 Their manner of life and their song are also quite different; and 

 should ornithologists agree with me in considering the Oxynotus 

 of Reunion a species distinct from that of Mauritius, I hope 

 they will allow me to designate the former by the name of O. 

 newtoni as a proof of my regard lor Mr. Edward Newton, who 

 is known as a careful student of ornithology; and further, also, 

 that they will adopt for the latter the name of O. typicus recently 

 conferred upon it by Dr. Hartlaub (Journ. fiir Ornith. 1865, 

 p. 160)*. I must not, however, fail to remind them that my 

 friend, Dr. Auguste Vinson of Reunion, was one of the first to 

 observe that the Oxynotus of that island was a distinct species, 

 as in his manuscript notes he says " Nous n^avons trouve nulle- 

 part la description de cet oiseau.^' 



It surprised the reviewer of my paper (Ibis, 1865, p. 530) to 

 learn that Oxynotus is useful to mankind, as he mentions my 

 statement that it inhabits the most impenetrable forests. I can 

 assure him that O. newtoni is of very great service as a destroyer 

 of the insects which do much harm to the palm-trees (which 

 furnish the colonists with the excellent Choux-palmiste) and to 

 other trees of value in this island. 



* [Averse as we are to the change of a name by which any species has 

 become known, there seems to be in this case a greater amount of legahty 

 than usual for the alteration proposed. There is no doubt that MM. Quoy 

 and Gaimard were mistaken in referring the subject of their figure, which 

 "provient de I'ile de France" (Voy. Uranie, Zool. pi. 17), to the Rufous- 

 bellied Shrike, or "Fiscal" of Latham (Synops. i. p. 163), the Lanius 

 ferrugineiis of Gmelin (Syst. Nat. I. i. p. 306), a very well-kuouTi species 

 which inhabits the Cape of Good Hope (Strickland, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist, 

 vii. p. 29 ; Sundevall, Crit. Framsfalln. Le Vaillant, no. 68) and belongs 

 to the genus Malaconotus . But if the specific name ferrurjineus, has on 

 that account to be discarded, Swainson's publication (Fauna Bor.-Am. ii. 

 p. 483) of that of rufiventer, from the Paris Museum, would seem to give 

 the latter priority, and it is a question whether the Mauritian bird will not 

 have to stand as Oxynotus rufiventer. — Ed.] 



