262 Canon Tristram on a Collection of 



7. ZOSTEROPS FLAVIFRONS (Lath.). 



This, the largest and finest of the White-eyes with which I 

 am acquainted, is stated to be very plentiful about gardens. 

 I have it both from Aneiteum and Aniwa. The species is 

 most remarkable for the great size of its bill. The nests sent 

 me resemble exactly those of Zosterops flaviceps as described 

 by Mr. Layard (not by Finsch and Hartlaub), suspended 

 neatly in the angle of two horizontal twigs by loops of fibrous 

 rootlets, and composed throughout of fibres, fine roots, and 

 cobwebs. The eggs, pale turquoise-blue, like those of the 

 whole genus without exception, are of course much larger 

 than any of their congeners in my collection. Native name 

 at Aneiteum " Inheleng," at Aniwa " Tafurusiu." Nests 

 taken 24th October and 14th November. 



8. Petroica siMiLis, G. R. G. 



There is a pair of this pretty little bird from Aneiteum in 

 the collection. It is very like P. pusilla of Samoa, but is 

 larger, and the male has the throat dark brown instead of 

 black. Native name " Katamal." 



9. Rhipidura, sp. ? 



One specimen of an undoubted Rhipidura was in the 

 Erromanga collection, but so utterly decayed that it crumbled 

 to a mass of feathers at once, and there was no possibility of 

 identifying it. This is the more disappointing as the species 

 given by Forster as from the New Hebrides seems to be as 

 yet undecided. One egg out of three came safely, and is 

 precisely like those in my collection of R. albiscapa from 

 Australia, and very distinct from any other Flycatcher^s. 



I may mention that, while the skins arrived in such 

 deplorable condition, the nest and eggs, in a tight box 

 within, were unharmed by damp or water, which had pene- 

 trated every thing else. 



10. Myiagra melanura, G. R. Gray. 



From Aneiteum and Aniwa. The glossy black throat and 

 breast of the male strikingly contrasts with the rich chestnut 

 of the female. There are two nests, each with eggs, from 

 Aniwa. The nests are most peculiar, very like those of M. 



