Avifauna of New Caledonia. 517 



Arcliibald Campbell, of the Customs Department, Melbourne), 

 and are pale olive, more or less spotted, but chiefly in the 

 form of a ring round the widest circumference, with dark 

 brown and pale purple; axis 10'", diam. 7'". 



35. EOPSALTRIA CALEDONICA (Gmcl.). 



This is the rarest of our Bush- Shrikes, frequenting the 

 scrub and forest regions. It is shy and retiring in its habits, 

 and very silent. ' Like the preceding, it feeds on insects, 

 which it hunts about the leaves and small branches. We 

 have frequently shot it from the summit of lofty trees. A 

 male, killed ou the 14th of April, was evidently breeding. 

 Bill horn-colour, with yellow at the edges near the base ; 

 legs and feet grey ; iris dark crimson. Gizzard very strong 

 and muscular — we suspect, for grinding up shells [Helicina) 

 and hard-winged Coleoptera. Length 6" 9'"/ wing 3" 3'", tail 

 2" 9'", tarse 13'", bill 10"'. 



At first sight it is difficult to distinguish this species from 

 the female of Pachycephala moriariensis ; but its reddish wing- 

 primaries are a sure guide. 



36. EopsALTRiA FLAYiGASTRA, Vcrr. & Des Murs. 



Why this bird should be classed with the previous one we 

 are at a loss to imagine ; it is totally unlike it in form, texture 

 of plumage, and habits. It is found in the same localities ; but 

 that is all. It is a weak, flifffy bird, quite unlike its robust 

 cousin, which closely resembles the Pachycephala. 



E. fiaviyastra has much the inquisitive habits of the 

 European Robin, coming up fearlessly close to the observer, 

 hopping on the low bushes with drooping wings and tailj 

 peering and peeping about. It frequents the ground very 

 much, examining the decaying leaves for its insect food. It 

 also seeks for it on low bushes ; but we have never seen it on 

 high trees. One of the young ladies of the Boyer family 

 found a nest in the crown of an arborescent fern {Lomaria 

 gibba) that grew by the river-side. She informs us it was 

 cup-shaped, lined with rootlets and grass, and contained two 

 eggs, which she secured and preserved for us. They are pale 



SER. IV. VOL. VI. 2 N 



