152 Mr. E. L, Layard on the Ornithology of Fiji. 



breed about December or November, making a rude platform 

 of small twigs for a nest, not usually above 8 or 10 feet from 

 the ground, and laying two eggs, pure white, axis 1" 4'", 

 diam. 1". 



People have told me they have taken the young birds 

 orange-coloured from the nest, and seen orange females. I 

 regret to say I don^t believe them ! 



C. victor feeds on many sorts of small and large berries and 

 fruits, swallowing them whole. 



Gallus domesticus. 



Among other presents left by Capt. Cook when he visited 

 these islands, were enumerated Fowls ; and some of the earlier 

 navigators who followed him mentioned the fact of their having 

 taken to the bush and gone wild. They are now found roam- 

 ing free on many of the islands ; and it was no uncommon 

 thing to be greeted by a loud " cock-a-doodle-doo " as we 

 wound our early way along the narrow tracks of the forest. 

 Some of these descendants of the old stock have gone back 

 to the " Game-fowl " colours ; others still show traces of the 

 " Dunghill." The natives catch them in snares and springes ; 

 but we shot some and captured a chick, which, with its mother 

 and a rooster, I hope may form a group in the British Mu- 

 seum as a product of our new colony of Fiji. 



Strepsilas ixterpres (L.). 



Our short visit to Koro Island procured us a specimen of 

 this bird, a female, in fine spring plumage. It is very scarce 

 in the colony, and does not, I think, breed with us. 



XV. — Notes on the Ornithology of Fiji, with Descriptions of 

 new or little-known Species. Bj E. L. Layard, C.M.G., 

 F.Z.S., &c., H.B.M. Consul. 



As there are several collectors of birds now in Fiji, who 

 are transmitting specimens to Eui'ope and Australia, I deem 

 it advisable to forward descriptions of such novelties as fall 

 under my own observation, as they occur, for publication in 

 the pages of ' The Ibis.' 



