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



31. Chalcopiiaps chrysochlora, G. R. Gray. 



Found on all the islands. Habits the same as those in New 

 Caledonia; frequents the ground in the bush. Iris dark 

 brown ; bill orange ; legs maroon. — L. L. 



32. Cal(enas ferruginea (Forst.). 



Generally distributed in the thick bush^ much frequent the 

 ground^ never go on higb trees ; when flushed they perch on 

 branches near the ground. Feed on small seeds. Iris yellow i 

 legs and feet red; bill black. — L. L. 



33. Carpophaga pacific a. 



The large Fruit-eating Pigeon is abundant in all the islands. 

 I shot it for the pot more than for skinning, and found it excel- 

 lent eating. It was frequenting the banian, then in fruit. 

 Native name " Oom," from its call. — L. L. 



34. Ianthcenas hypcenochroa, Gould. 



Also generally distributed, but not so abundant as the pre- 

 vious one. Feeds on banian. They were common in Erro- 

 mango, but so reduced in flesh by the destruction of their food 

 by the hurricane of the previous April as to be hardly worth 

 shooting. The captain of the missionary ship 'Dayspring' 

 informed me that shortly after the hurricane they came out 

 of the forest in such numbers, seeking for food, that he shot 

 twenty couple in a short time, as they perched about the 

 mission walks and homestead. He, however, found them so 

 poor that he gave over shooting at them. — L. L. 



These Pigeons seem identical with the New-Caledonian 

 species ; the single specimen of the previous species brought 

 is somewhat smaller than the Fijian race. — E. L. L. 



35. Megapodius, sp. inc.*? 



Native name " Malou.^'' Is getting very scarce in conse- 

 quence of the rapid increase of pigs and tame cats that have 

 taken to the bush. It is a very shy and wary bird, and is 

 found only on the sides of deep densely wooded ravines, where 

 it scratches about among the rocks for the worms, small 



* [The Megapode of the New Hebrides has beeu named M. hrazieri 

 (Sclater, P. Z. S. 1869, p. 529), from eggs obtained by Mr. Brazier at 

 Vanua Lavu and Sandwich Islands. — Edd.) 



