184 Canon Tristram on Birds from 



miniature Raven in condemning him to seclusion in a genus 

 kept to himself. This process is not far removed from sub- 

 dividing the races of man by their noses. 



29. Aplonis caledonica, Bp., = ^. viridigrisea, G. R. Gr. 

 [? =Coracias striatus (Gm.)]. 



I feel no doubt this is the bird described by Latham and 

 Gmelin j but as it is possible their description may apply to 

 the Lifu species, the coloration of which is almost identical, 

 it is perhaps better to adopt Bonaparte^s name, 



30. Erythrura psittacea (Gm.). 



I cannot perceive any cause for splitting up the most natural 

 genus Erythrura. 



31. Ptilopus holosericeus, Temm. 



Mr. Layard obtained this, perhaps the grandest of the 

 Piilopi, at Dombea. It appears to be very rare. The great 

 difference in size between tlie male and female is very remark- 

 able. The curious whitish bars on the secondaries of the 

 male are traceable, but are almost obsolete in the female ; 

 and so is the black belt across the top of the abdomen. 



32. PHiENORHINA GOLIATH, G. R. Gr. 



This gigantic Carpophaga was also procured at Dombea. 



33. Ianthcenas hypcenochroa, Gould. 



This Pigeon, originally described from the Isle of Pines, 

 and obtained by Mr. Layard at Noumea, seems to be repre- 

 sented in each group by closely affine species. It may be 

 at once distinguished from all the other species by the re- 

 splendent uniform ruddy chestnut of the whole lower plumage. 



34. RiiiNocHETus jUBATus, Vcrr. & Desm. 



35. Larus nov^-hollandi;e, Steph. 



36. Sterna gracilis, Gould. 



This bird appears to be absolutely identical with our S.para- 

 disea*, which occurs also at the Cape of Good Hope. It 

 was found by Mr. Layard breeding on an island off Anse- 

 vata on New-year's day. He has sent a series of the eggs 

 with the birds. 



* [Cf. Saunders, V. Z. S. I87fi, p. G52.— Edp.] 



