Birds from the New Hebrides. 261 



4. Halcyon sanctus, Vig. & Horsf. 



A pair of this species are in the colleetion, obtained at 

 Aneiteura ; the first authentic instance of the New Hebrides 

 as a habitat for this Kingfisher, though Mr. Sharpe observes 

 that Mr. G. R. Gray has given them as one of its localities. 

 Both my specimens are adult, and have not the slightest 

 tinge of cinnamon on the plumage. The under wing-coverts 

 are pure white, while in H.juli(e they are always rich cinna- 

 mon ; the upper wing-coverts and back are also darker than 

 in that species. 



5. Myzomela cardixalis (Forst.). 



Of this brilliant little Honeybird there are several speci- 

 mens both from Aneitcum and Aniwa, in various stages of 

 plumage. Gray's description, in his ' Catalogue of the Birds 

 of the Tropical Islands of the Pacific,^ of an immature speci- 

 men is rather applicable to the female. The adult male is 

 very like M. nigriventris, Peale, from Samoa, but larger, with 

 much more scarlet on the back, and the rich scarlet of the 

 breast not extending so far down. 



The female is smaller than the male by "2 inch, and the 

 wing by "IS. It has only red on the forehead and throat, and 

 a faint tinge of red on the occiput and rump. The natives 

 seem to imagine it a distinct species, calling the male at 

 Aneiteum " Inhenaug," at Aniwa " Ta-manume,^' and the 

 male on the former island " Inyara," at the latter place 

 '' Ta-wenwene." A nest from Aniwa attributed to this bird 

 is a very neat structure, reminding me somewhat of the nest 

 of a Drymceca, small, compact, and well finished ; the outer 

 portion of cocoanut fibres, and the lining of very fine vege- 

 table fibre or rootlets. Kggs, said to be those of Myzomela 

 by the natives, are pale blue; but they are doubtless those of 

 Zosterops, and were not identified by my kind and careful 

 correspondent or his friend Mr. Paton. 



These birds resort much to the gardens, sucking the flowers. 



6. Myzomela ? 



Specimens too much damaged for identification, but a very 

 much smaller species than the above. 



