146 Mr. E. L. Layard on some little-known 



Long. Al. C'aud. Tars. Rost. 



in. lia. in. lin. in. lin. lin. lin. 



M. vitiensis GG 31 28 8f 7^ 



M. huensis G G 3 3 3 4 11 13 



M.fortunce GG 31 33 11 9 



M. macrorhi/nchtis 7G 34 39 13 14 



As Avill be seen, the bills of M. buensis and M. macro- 

 rhynchus much exceed the others in length, and are nearly 

 twice as thick. 



Pachycephala torquata, sp. nov. 



This, another new species, is not uncommon in the forests 

 of Taviuni — perhaps on account of its loud and varied voice 

 betraying it oftener than that of other birds. If you listen 

 attentively, you will probably hear a kind of running bass 

 accompaniment of " purr purr/^ This comes from its mate, 

 a little brown bird. The family are like the female, the very 

 young ones being redder. As the young males grow up, the 

 glorious yellow livery in which the adult rejoices is put on 

 in patches, generally beginning with a yellow moustache on 

 each side of the mouth. 



And now for a further inquiry into species or varieties. 

 What are the four birds we have here? — 1. Pachycephala 

 grdffii, Hartl. ; 2. P. vitiensis, Gray; 3. P. icteroides, Peale; 

 4. P. torquata, Layard. Are they species or varieties ? 



As far as I know, my P. torquata is confined exclusively 

 to Taviuni. The yellow of the underparts is extremely rich, 

 and crossed by a broad black collar; the voice differs from 

 all the others. P. vitiensis is much paler, and the throat paler 

 still (Finsch and Hartlaub say '^ white ;''^ but I have not seen 

 it so), and separated from the other yellow by a narrow black 

 collar. It is found in Viti Levu, not elsewhere that I know of 

 yet. P. icteroides has no collar, and is paler than either of 

 the two last. I fancy some specimens look as if they were 

 assuming collars, a few black spots appearing on the neck. 

 It is found in Ovalau. P. grliffii has a yellow spot on each 

 side of the forehead, beginning at the nostrils, and a yellow 

 bar on the rump. Its underparts equal those of P. torquata 

 in richness. It is found at Bua ( Vanua Levu) . 



