258 Messrs. E. L, and E. L. C. Layard on 



Both said it was very rare (and so admitted to be by the 

 natives), and only found in dense higli forest, near the siim- 

 mits of the mountains. The first said the orange changed 

 much after death, but that he sent away the specimens (one to 

 M. Marie !) soon after preparing them,, so could not tell what 

 colour they would ultimately have assumed. 



50. Glycyphila MODESTA, G. R. Gray, and Nos. 51, 52, 

 53, & 54. 



Here, again, we cannot help fancying some confusion exists, 

 and that one species has done duty for several. We can only 

 find G. fasciata, Forst., and what we identify as G. chloroph(Ba 

 of the same author. This last is very common everywhere, 

 and is clearly (if rightly identified) =to G. caledonica, Gray, 

 = G. modesta, Gray ('Cruise of the Cura9oa,' pi. iv. fig. 1). 

 E. L. L. obtained a Glycyphila at Honailou, which, at the 

 first glance, he thought new to him, from its general ruddy 

 tint ; but a little examination showed that this colour was only 

 derived from the ferruginous soil, the dust of which covered 

 bush and flower and every thing else to such an extent that 

 the bird's plumage was saturated with it by contact. It was 

 only the common species ! 



56. Myzomela erythrocephala, Gould. 



Not included by ]MM. Verreaux and Des Murs in their list ; 

 neither have we seen or heard of it; and the only species found 

 near Noumea as yet by us has been No. 55, M. sanguinolenta ; 

 but in the Lifu collection are two birds which approach 

 very nearly to GoukVs description {' Handb. B. Austr.' vol. i. 

 p. 556) of his M. erythrocephala. There are, however, marked 

 diff'erences, that, Avithout actually comparing skins, induce us to 

 think the bird is distinct, in which case we would suggest the 

 name "lifuensis" for it, as it is probably confined to that island, 

 and any name alluding to its colour would equally apply to 

 other species. Gould says " the male has the head and rump 

 scarlet, the remainder of the plumage deep chocolate-broAvn." 

 Our bird has the whole back scarlet, as well as the rump and 

 head, and the latter has a black patch extending from the 

 nostril to the eye. We should likewise characterize the rest of 

 the plumage as sooty black, certainly not " chocolate-brown.'^ 



