504 Messrs. E. L. & E. L. C. Layard on the 



It is about the commonest bird we have, and one of the 

 most useful, being very fond of locusts. It may constantly 

 be seen garnishing the telegraph-posts and wires, or perched 

 on a projecting dead branch of a tree, from which it keeps a 

 look-out for its prey (locusts, Gryllse of all kinds, lizards, 

 crabs, and such like), on which it pounces with unerring 

 certainty. We have also seen it take insects on the wing, 

 returning to its perch like a Flycatcher. It nests in holes, 

 sometimes dug by itself in banks, or in hollow trees, often at 

 a considerable altitude from the ground. Nesting-season 

 November to January'^. 



This species never has a white lining to the wing, as have 

 some of its allies. We have specimens from Norfolk Island. 



[I am quite ready to accept Mr. Layard's correction of his 

 label, for the specimen labelled remains unique, and I have 

 had at least 50 specimens of H. sancta from New Caledonia 

 through my hands. — H. B. T.] 



15. Myzomela caledontca, Forbes, Ibis, 1879, p. 182. 



This little " Flower-pecker " has been separated by Mr. 

 Forbes from the Australian species ; and as his dictum has 

 been accepted by " the faculty,^' we do not dispute it, espe- 

 cially as we have never had the Australian M. sanguinolenta, 

 with which it has hitherto been united, to compare with it. 



It is generally distributed, but not common; perhaps it 

 escapes observation owing to its minute size ; but its brilliant 

 scarlet back usually betrays it in the case of the male, his 

 more sober-coloured partner passing unheeded. Fresh-killed 

 specimens measure— length 4" 6"', wing 2" 3'", tail 1" 7"', 

 tarse 9'", bill 9'". Bill black ; legs and feet brownish green, 

 soles of feet yellow ; iris brown. 



It feeds on minute insects and the nectar of flowers, climb- 

 ing about the blossoms of the nigoulie {Melaleuca leuco- 

 dendron) and other forest trees. We have never heard of a 

 nest being found ; but dissection has shown iis that the 

 breeding-season is about May to July. It has a shrill cry. 



* When we give dates like this we merely record the results of our 

 own experience; the breeding-season may begin earlier and continue 

 later, but as yet we do not know the fact. 



