260 Messrs. E. L. mid E. L. C. Layard on 



59. Erythrura psiTTACEA (Gmel.). 



Seems generally distributed, and is a favourite cage-bird. 

 It occurs in the Lifu collection ; but there is likewise another 

 species from that island which seems to us quite new ; unfor- 

 tunately it is one of M. Guillanton^s specimens, and conse- 

 quently in very bad order ; but enough remains to show that 

 it is very distinct. We name it 



Erythrura cyaneifrons, sp. nov. 



General colour above and below green, rather lighter than 

 that of the preceding ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail-feathers 

 dull scarlet, not nearly so bright as in the preceding ; two cen- 

 tral feathers elongated ; forehead (and cheeks apparently) 

 bi'ight blue. There seems to be a narrow black line between 

 the bill and the blue of the forehead, and a black patch over 

 the lores ; but the malpreparation of the specimen prevents 

 an accurate description. Bill black ; legs as in the preceding. 

 Length 5", wing 2" 3"', tail 2" 3"', tarse 7'", bill 6'". 



This is not the female of the preceding, of which wc have 

 shot several ; unfortunately the sex is not noted (none of the 

 specimens in the collection are sexed) ; but it looks like a male 

 in full plumage. It is a very interesting addition to the avi- 

 fauna; and if L. L. succeeds in bringing a fair series of this, and 

 of the others here indicated, we shall be able to correct any 

 errors into which we may have fallen, or to add to our descrip- 

 tions if necessary. 



Macropygia ALBicEPS (Tcmm.). 



Mr. Gray {' Birds of Tropical Islands,' p. 43) includes this 

 Pigeon among the birds of New Caledonia. We have not 

 yet seen it; nor is it in M. Marie's list or in the 'Rev. Zool.' 



[I can find no authority for including this bird in the fauna 

 of New Caledonia. It seems to have crept into Gray's list in 

 error.— H. B. T.] 



63. Carpophaga pacifica (Gm.). 



Quoted by M. Marie as C. (Bnea, G. R. G. W^ehave a sus- 

 picion that there are several varieties, if not species, con- 

 founded under this title. A series from different islands is 

 needed to show this. 



