268 Messrs. E. L. and E. L. C. Layard on Birds 



1. Circus^ sp.? 



A Harrier, resembling the Fijian species {Circus approxi- 

 mans), was seen questing over the grassy uplands and hill- 

 sides of Vate and Api, but was too wary to offer the chance 

 of a shot. — L. L. 



2. Urospizias, sp. ? 



A few small Hawks were also seen on Vate and Api, but 

 very wild and scarce. — L. L. 



[Probably Urospizias torquata, Temm., which I have re- 

 ceived from Aneiteum. — H. B. T.] 



3. Strix delicatula, Gould. 



An Owl, undoubtedly of this widely spread species, flew 

 over our heads one evening as we were concluding a game of 

 cricket in the island of Vate, — L. L. 



We have an idol, taken at Api, in the head of which is a 

 tuft of feathers pulled from the wing of this white Owl. — 

 E. L. L. 



4. Halcyon sancta, Vig. & Horsf. ? 



This was observed, or procured, in all the places visited. 

 It was not so common as in New Caledonia, but equally dis- 

 tributed in the forest, grass-land, and sea-shore, perhaps most 

 in the forest. Bill black, with basal half of lower mandible 

 white ; legs ashy ; iris dark brown. — L. L. 



I cannot separate this Kingfisher from the New-Caledonian 

 bird, though it is generally, I should say, larger, and has a 

 more robust bill ; but these characters differ in birds procured 

 from the same localities, and vary with sex and age. — E. L. L. 



[Mr. Layard has received a Kingfisher from Aneiteum, 

 which he takes to be H. Julia, but which is evidently of this 

 species. No doubt H.jidicB is little more than a local repre- 

 sentative of H. sacra, to which it is more closely allied than 

 to H. sancta. It is less brightly coloured than the former, 

 but has not nearly so green a hue as H. sancta. But the 

 differentiating character is the dark chestnut necklet from 

 the upper mandible encircling the occiput. This is equally 

 remarkable in all stages of plumage. In all this group of 



