Avifauna of New Caledonia. 515 



by the voice, but they were never obtained without consider- 

 able trouble. 



32. Lalage N.EVIA (Forster). 



Lalage montrouzieri, Verr. & Des Murs. 



We are sorry to be obliged to deprive our venerable friend, 

 the Pere Montrouzier, of the honour of giving his name to 

 this caterpillar-catcher; but we have no doubt in our own 

 minds that MM. Verreaux and Des Murs overlooked the de- 

 scription of the old English author when they indicated this 

 species. The illustrious naturalist can, however, well afford 

 the loss, his name being associated with so many other dis- 

 coveries in every branch of his favourite study, zoology. 



This little bird is too common and conspicuous to have 

 escaped the notice of any collector landing on these shores. 

 It is found throughout the island, and, from its white breast 

 and habit of perching on the tops of trees and bushes, is very 

 noticeable. It is usually found in pairs, male and female, 

 and, at the right season, generally accompanied by three or 

 four young ones. It breeds from August to November. The 

 young are spotted light brown, not unlike the plumage of 

 the young European Hobin. At a more advanced age the 

 young male resembles the female, wanting the jet-black 

 head of the adult male, and having its plumage tinged with 

 brown. They feed on insects of all kinds, and we have occa- 

 sionally found berries in their stomachs. Length 7", wing 

 3" 5"', tail 2" 3'". Iris dark brown ; bill black ; legs and feet 

 very dark brown. 



"We have seen this species frequenting gardens, even in 

 the town of Noumea. M. Marie includes both L. montrou- 

 zieri and M. navia in his list, the latter without the * and 

 with a mark of doubt (?) . 



33. Pachycephala moriariensis, Verr. & Des Murs. 



A strictly forest-loving species, this Bush-Shrike is found 

 throughout the island wherever there is sufficient bush to 

 afford it concealment. Like others of its family it betrays 

 itself by its loud call-note, which is easily imitated by a 

 whistler ; and as the pugnacious character of the male prompts 



