194 On Birds from New Caledonia, Lifu, <^c. 



It differs from /. castaneiceps in that it wants the chestnut 

 head, but has the vinous purple abdomen, which in the Samoan 

 bird is dark slate-colour. I have had for some years a speci- 

 men from Erromanga identical in all respects with Mr. 

 Layard^s from Vate. 



15. Globicera pacifica (Gm.). 

 From Ambrym Island. 



I cannot detect any differences between the single specimen 

 sent home and the descriptions of this somewhat widely spread 

 species from other islands. 



16. Macropygia rufa, E. P. Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. 

 New S.Wales, vol. ii. p. 287. 



Obtained by Mr. Layard both on Tanna and Vate Islands. 

 Mr. Mackinlay (from whose specimens it was described by 

 Mr. Ramsay) procured it on Sandwich Island (Vate). On 

 Tanna he found another very distinct species, M. mackinlayi, 

 Ramsay, which did not come under Mr. Layard's observation. 

 I had several years ago received from Rev. J. Inglis a skin 

 of a Macropygia from Aneiteum, too imperfect for descrip- 

 tion ; but it proves to be Macropygia rufa, which has, it is 

 evident, an extensive range throughout the group. 



17. Chalcophaps chrysochlora, Gould. 

 Vate Island. 



I observe that Mr. E. P. Ramsay proposes to distinguish the 

 New- Hebrides bird under the title of var. sandivichiensis, on 

 the ground of the absence of white on the shoulder ; but in 

 Mr. Layard's collection there are some from Vate with, and 

 others without the white bar on the shoulders. This dis- 

 tinction can hardly hold, even for a variety. 



18. Megapodius layardi, sp. nov, 



M. suprk et infra fuliginoso-niger, tergo imo et supracau- 

 dalibus brunneo tinctis, secundariis extremis brunneo vix 

 lavatis ; remigibus et rectricibus atrofuscis ; facie, sinci- 

 pite et cervice nudis, plumulis angustis ubique sparsis, 

 occipite cum pileo nigro, tarsis et pedibus Igete flavis, 

 rostro flavo, unguibus corneis, iride brunnea. ? mari 



