524 Messrs. E. L. & E. L. C. Layard u?i the 



retiring skulking little bird, and not often seen. At Lif u we 

 observed one feeding on the ground. 



Bill black ; legs and feet grey-black ; iris drab. 



44. Nymphicus cornutus (Gmel.). 



This crested Parrot, which is peculiar to New Caledonia, 

 is found in all the forest-region, frequenting trees in flower 

 or fruit. It usually flies in pairs, though often several pairs 

 may be found feeding on the same tree. They are very 

 partial to the candle-nu.t fruit and to the blossoms of the 

 Erythrina. We have seen them feed on the gi'ound on fallen 

 fruits and berries, but they do not usually resort thither. 

 They nest in holes of trees, and we obtained their eggs .on 

 the 15th October. They are dirty Avhite, rough, fouf in 

 number, similarly shaped at each end, and much rounded : 

 axis 12, diam. 10. 



The male has usually a much larger crest than the female, 

 but this is not always the case ; he is also generally larger. 

 The bill is leaden blue, with a black tip ; legs and feet grey- 

 brown ; iris very brilliant brown-orange. Length 13", wing 

 6", tail 7" 3"', tarse 9'". Has a variety of native names ; 

 Bourail dialect " Hagaran." 



45. Cyanorhamphus saisseti, Verr. 



Frequents the same localities as the preceding, but feeds 

 more on the ground on small seeds, which it finds among the 

 grass. It also usually travels in small flocks, perhaps all 

 members of one family, remaining together until the next 

 breeding-season. It is very partial to the ripe fruit of the 

 paupaw, tearing away the melon-like pulp to arrive at the 

 pungent seeds within. 



From the window in which we write (E. L. L. at Moindou) 

 we see flocks of them flying from the mountain-forests in the 

 morning to visit the gigantic Erythrina trees in the valley, 

 now, alas, shorn of their glory, and only exhibiting the gor- 

 geous livery on one or two trees here and there. In the 

 evening the same flocks return homeward to their mountain 

 fastnesses, and our young friends tell us they roost by hun- 

 dreds in some favourite tree. The male usually exceeds the 

 female in size. Male, total length 12", wing 5" 3"', tail 7" 3"', 



