440 Messrs. Salvin and Sclater's Index of flie 



increased utility. Still, notwithstanding this serious omission, 

 Mr. Gray has done excellent service in this laborious undertaking. 



2. Descriptions of New Species of Birds from the Solomon 

 and Banks's Groups of Islands. Ann. N. H. ser. 4, vol. v. 

 p. 327(1870). 



The species here described were collected by Mr. Julius 

 Breuchley, during a visit to various islands in the Pacific Ocean. 

 Tiiey are as follows : — Accipiter albogularis, Philemon sclateri, 

 Ptilonopns solomonensis, Caipophaga brenchleyi, all from San Cristo- 

 val I., Megapodius brenchleyi, from Gulf Island. These islands be- 

 long to the Solomon group. A list of seven species^ not included 

 Mr. Sclater's list of the birds of the Solomons (P. Z. S. 18G9, 

 in p. 118) is given. Two species of birds from Vanua Levu, one of 

 the islands of the Banks's group, are then described as Lalage 

 banksiana and Rhipidura spilodera, along with which two known 

 species were procured. A note on Megapodius brazieri is added ; 

 and mention is made of the existence of birds of this genus in 

 the New Hebrides and also on Tanna and the Sandwich Islands. 

 Lastly, Glyciphila jiavotincta is described from the New Hebrides. 



Gray, Robert. 



Letter from. Ibis, 1870, p. 291. 



The occurrence of Astur atricapillus and Tetanus chloro- 

 pygius in Scotland is mentioned. 



Grey, Sir G. 



Letter from. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 116. 



A letter referring to Dr. Haast's communication respecting 

 the discovery of Dino7-nis bones, wherein the opinion is expressed 

 that the Moa was found living by the ancestors of the present 

 New-Zealand race. 



GURNEY, J. H. 



1. Letter from. Ibis, 1870, p. 150. 



On the probable identity of a South-African Heron with 

 Ardea idee of Madagascar, and on the difference between Buto- 

 rides atricapilla and B. javanica, as shown by specimens in 

 the Leyden Museum. 



