Avifauna of Neto Caledonia. 503 



in the manner of au English Swift^ with the wings raised 

 over their backs. 



11. CoLLOCALIA LEUCOPYGIA, Wall. 



The '' Grey-bellied " Swift, common on our arrival here, 

 has not been seen by us for about two years. In habits it 

 resembles the preceding, except that we have never seen it 

 in the forest. Its eggs are also similar; but the nests we 

 have taken are far more glutinous, and composed of thin 

 grass-stalks and rootlets, Avith a feather or two stuck outside. 

 The average size is 2" x 2^" across and 1" deep, and they are 

 usually built in caverns or on the underside of a sloping rock. 

 M. Marie includes C. linchi, Horsf., in his list as the only 

 species known to him. It is probable he alludes to one of these. 



12. COLLOCALIA CINEREA (Gmcl.). 



Although we have never handled a specimen killed in New 

 Caledonia, we insert this species in our list on the authority 

 of our (E. L. L.) own personal observation. We know the 

 bird well (L. L. having brought several specimens from Vate 

 &c.), and we have no manner of doubt that we saw this species 

 near our own house in Noumea, and it also occurred to us in 

 Lifu [cf Ibis, 1880, p. 223) . 



13. HiRUNDO TAHITICA, Gmcl. 



This is another species that we insert on the authority of 

 our (E. L. L.) personal vision. On the 26th November, 1879, 

 we saw a young bird flying round the office of the mail- 

 steamer in the town of Noumea. We instantly, after assur- 

 ing ourselves of identity, drove off to M. Saves's to beg him 

 to try and secure it, and ourselves returned next day with 

 our collecting-gun, hoping to procure it if he had failed. 

 Our efforts were, however, in vain ; the bird had flown. 



14. Halcyon sancta, Vig. & Horsf. 



This is the only Kingfisher we possess, our able coadjutor 

 Canon Tristram notwithstanding {cf. Ibis, 1879, p. 181) ! 

 Jove nods sometimes ! but how the error has occurred we 

 cannot tell, unless we, by a lapsus calami, wrote " Ansevata " 

 for " Vate " when labelling the specimen. 



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