498 Mr. E. L. Layard on a new Species of JNIyiolestcs. 



consequently the Iavo mandibles are stouter than those of M. 

 pulcher, especially the under one. 



The bill is in shape more like that of Myiobius than of any 

 other genus with which I have compared it, and for the pre- 

 sent I incline to place it there. In this view I only follow 

 Mr. G. R. Gray, who puts Platyrhynchus murinus, Spix, in 

 Myiobius, and as identical with M. incanescens, Wied. 



XLVIII. — Description of a new Species of Myiolestes /rom 

 Fiji. By E. L. Layard, C.M.G., F.Z.S., &c., H.B.M. Con- 

 sul at Naumea, New Caledonia. 



The discovery of another new species of Myiolestes in Fiji 

 does not surprise me, as 1 feel confident that when the 

 islands to the southward and eastward are examined, addi- 

 tional novelties will reward the explorer^s trouble. I hope 

 Mr. Kleinschmidt, collector for Messrs. Godeffroy, will be 

 able to visit them ; I have urgently advised him to do so. 



The present new species was discovered on Kandavu (the 

 largest of the southern islands) along with several other 

 novelties, by a collector whom I counselled to proceed thither, 

 as the locality was likely to produce new things. It may be 

 at once distinguished from all other species of the genus by 

 its large size, I therefore propose to call it 



Myiolestes maxima, Layard. 



(^ . General colour throughout warm brown, clearer and 

 paler below, lightest on the upper throat and vent ; flanks 

 slightly rufous ; no grey tinge about the lower parts, as in 

 M. vitiensis, Hartl., nor is there the slightest trace of the 

 whitish tips to the tail-feathers, which are very indistinctly 

 edged and tipped with rufous ; inner and outer webs of wing- 

 primaries the same, but more distinct ; bill very large and 

 strongly hooked, black, with the edges of both mandibles 

 and the tip whitish horn-colour ; legs bluish. Length 8", 

 wing 4", tail 3" 6"', bill 1" 2'" (broad 5'"), tarsus 1" 1'". Iris 

 brown. Food insects. 



Habits same as those of the other known species. 



