Birds from the New Hebrides. 265 



21. LiMOSA MELANUROIDESj Gould ? 



One specimen from Aniwa, among seven of the fan-tailed 

 species, is rather smaller, and with the tail not barred, yet 

 not black, but dark brown. I believe, therefore, that it is an 

 immature bird of Mr. Gould^s L. melanuroides. 



22. Ardea sacra, Gm. 



Two specimens in good state from Aneiteum are in the 

 collection. They are considerably larger than A. sacra from 

 Samoa. I observe that they sustain the remarks made by 

 G. R. Gray, who would have separated them under his name 

 of A. albolineata, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 166. The difference seems 

 to be too slight and uncertain on which to found a species ; 

 but if not two species, there are certainly two races in these 

 Pacific Islands, a larger and a smaller, and the two do not 

 appear to be found in the same locality anywhere. Native 

 name " Inpaing.^' Mr. Inglis observes that it wades in the 

 sea rather than in streams. 



23. Rallus philippensis, L. 



From Aneiteum. Native name " Nebutch.^^ " Note. 

 Lives in the bush, and flies little." 



24. PoRPHYRio aneiteumensis, sp. uov. 



Long. tot. 18"5, alae a carp. 9*4, caud. 3*6, rostr. a rict. 1*35, 

 raand. super, cum scuta 2*4, tars. 3*5, dig. med. cum 

 ungue 3' 75. Coloribus non aliter distributis quam in 

 P. indico et P. vitiensi, sed dorso non tam Isete cserules- 

 cente quam in P. indico. 

 I have been induced to describe the Purple Gallinule of 

 the New Hebrides as a new species, since I cannot identify it 

 by any of the descriptions within my reach. I think a con- 

 fusion has arisen in this group owing to an error in Gassings 

 'Ornithology of the United States Exploring Expedition.^ 

 He there gives P. indicus as the species found in Samoa; but 

 in a footnote he gives measurements corresponding exactly 

 with those I have given above for the New- Hebrides bird. 

 Now these measurements do not agree in the least with those 

 of true P. indicus, as correctly given by Finsch and Hartlaub 

 and by Schlegel, and proved by specimens before me from 

 Sumatra and Macassar. 



SER. III. — VOL. VI. T 



