Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Fiji. 155 



but is about a third smaller, aud the head is entirely covered 

 with the brilliant blue feathers. He has named it L. minor, 



Ptilotis provocator, Layard, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 28. 



Mr. Pearce obtained at Kandavu in September three nests 

 of this species, each containing a single egg. The nest is a 

 light structure, composed of fine rootlets, and lined with bents 

 of a thin wiry grass, with a base of cotton and feathers. Ext. 

 diam. 4", intern. 2" 6'" ; ext. depth 2" 6'", intern. 1" 6'". 



The egg is a pale salmon-colour, spotted throughout with 

 dark red, and indistinct, very pale, purple blotches, small, 

 and the latter grouped chiefly in the form of a ring at the 

 greatest diameter. Axis 13'", diam. 9'". 



It is singular that 1 have to chronicle two other Fijian 

 birds apparently only laying one egg ! Is this the rule or 

 the exception ? If the former, it accounts for the paucity of 

 individuals one sees in the forest. 



Rallina pceciloptera, Hartl. 



On the 9th October, 1875, a male and four eggs of this 

 species were brought to me from the Rewa. The latter are 

 of a warm brown cream-colour, marked throughout, but espe- 

 cially at the thick end, with irregularly shaped and sized 

 spots and blotches, of indistinct pale purple and dry blood- 

 colour. Axis 2", diam. 1" 6'". On blowing them they were 

 found just beginning to be hard-set. 



The male, judging from two pairs I have in my collection, 

 is rather smaller than the female. 



The natives say this bird never takes wing. On the point 

 of the spurious winglet there is a small stiff spur, black, with 

 a white tip, and about half an inch in length. 



Sterna melanauchen. 



I am induced to give the following description of this 

 species, taken from a fresh-killed specimen, as it diflFers 

 considerably from that given by Jerdon in his ' Birds of 

 India ' : — 



Bill and feet black ; tip of bill and claws white ; eye brown ; 

 inside of bill (mouth) deep orange-red. The whole of the 



M 2 



