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



a single specimen we procured has the bill as short as 8'", 

 the maximum quoted by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub. Then, 

 again, they describe the iris as " white/' and so figure it ; 

 in ours they are all buif, a darker shade prevailing. The 

 wattle is very different from that of P. procerior, but hardly 

 resembles that figured by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub. If 

 found distinct on actual comparison, I would name it P. si- 

 milis. I would call it after the island, of the birds of which 

 I now write ; but I possess some specimens from Bua and 

 Mathuata islands which are identical. 



I shall have more to say on the identity of some of the 

 birds of this coast with Taviuni presently ; meanwhile I must 

 refer to a species of Ptilotis from Fortuna Island, which is 

 clearly quite distinct ; but being one of Mr. Liardet's bad 

 skins, is hard to describe. 



It does not seem to have a pendent wattle, but a thickened, 

 bare, fleshy, elongated yellow spot, between which and the 

 bill is a black patch of feathers, and behind it, over the ears, 

 a spot of bright yellow feathers. Its whole coloration is 

 lighter than P. procerior and P. similis, especially on the chest 

 and belly, which are rather brightly tinged with yellow ; and it 

 has nowhere that ''scaled'' appearance which, I find, in certain 

 lights is exhibited by all the other species. In form it seems 

 more slender. Length about 6" 6 or 7'", wing 3" 9'", tail 

 3" 3'", tarsi 1" 1"', bill 1". If new, I propose for this species 

 the name of Ptilotis flavo-aurita. 



Lamprolia victoria, Finsch. 



One of my chief objects in proceeding to Taviuni was to 

 see this singular and beautiful species in its native haunts. 

 It frequents the higher ranges of the mountains, never by any 

 chance coming down to the sea-level. It is, as far as my present 

 knowledge goes, confined to the island of Taviuni — though 

 a gentleman, on whose observations I do not place much con- 

 fidence, has assiu'ed my son that he has seen it on the neigh- 

 bouring islands of Vanua Levu. A lad also told me, both it 

 and the "Orange Dove" (C. victor) inhabit the Jasawas 

 group of islands. It is never seen together in greater numbers 



