252 Messrs. E. L. and E. L. C. Layafd ua 



Yahoue,'^ where they were shot by the superintendent; and two 

 more have been seen by us, hovering over our house in pursuit 

 of our broods of young chickens. Indeed, we skinned our second 

 specimen with the gun by our side at the open window, fully 

 expecting that the marauder would give us the chance of a 

 shot ! The first specimen weighed 2 lb, and the girth round 

 the middle of the thigh was 3^ inches. It had a lizard in its 

 gullet. This is the first instance in which this species has 

 been recorded from New Caledonia : it is a fine addition to 

 its avifauna. 



6. Circus wolfi, Gurney, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 823. 



[The differences between the New-Caledonian species and 

 Circus maiUardi, from Joanna and Reunion, with which M. 

 Marie identifies it, are pointed out by Mr. Gurney in his 

 description of C. ivolfi. It has not come under the notice of 

 Mr. Layard.— H. B. T.] 



7. Strix castanops, Gould. 



We have not met with this species ; but in the collection, 

 though not from Lifu, is a bird that bears evidence on its label 

 as having been killed somewhere in New Caledonia, which 

 accords in description and in all its measurements with Strix 

 novce-hollandice, Stephens, as given by Gould (' Handb. Birds 

 of Austr/ i. p. 65); and as such we, without doubt, consider it. 

 This is another addition to the list. 



10. COLLOCALIA LEUCOPYGIA, Wall. 



[Identified as C. linchi, Horsf., by M. Marie, but, I believe, 

 erroneously. — H. B. T.] 



Common throughout the islands, and, we think, at least 

 partially, migratory. It was very common about Noumea 

 in the cold weather, up to the end of September or be- 

 ginning of October; since then it has disappeared. E. L. L. 

 lately (9th November) visited Honailou, about halfway uj) 

 the east coast. Here the species was found breeding in some 

 caverns in limestone rocks. The nests were composed of 

 fine rootlets, strands of Casuarina, dry grass, and feathers, 

 cemented together into a hard compact mass, and firmly 

 fastened to the sloping I'ock by the saliva of the birds. 



