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



caught with dogs. The iris is dark crimson ; bill very dark 

 horn-colour ; legs and feet brown. 



70. PoRPHYRio viTiENsis, Peale. 



This is the only Gallinule that we know of in the island, 

 though M. Marie includes P. bellus and P. melanonotus in his 

 list, without, however, ever having seen the former ; the latter 

 is probably the bird we identify as P. vitiensis. 



Though larger than the Fijian bird, which in turn exceeds 

 the Samoan, we cannot separate the New-Caledonian species, 

 especially as we have received a specimen identical in colora- 

 tion, but smaller than either, from the New Hebrides (Vate) . 



The Blue Gallinule is far more common than it seems, being 

 but seldom seen ; but every marsh in the island is ten- 

 anted by one or more pairs, and in the larger swamps they 

 abound. If there is any cultivation near their haunts they 

 do much damage, destroying pumpkins, maize, yams, &c. 

 with their powerful bills. They also devour numbers of 

 locusts, but are among the birds which our wise legislators 

 have permitted to be shot, while they protect the " White- 

 eye " and the tiny Flycatchers ! ! 



They are not bad eating "jugged,^' resembling, when thus 

 dressed, a hare. Our Moindou friends found a nest near 

 their house, and transferred the eggs to a sitting fowl, who 

 hatched out several little balls of black down, which, how- 

 ever, soon perished for want of proper nourishment, A 

 young bird which they captured became very tame, feeding 

 itself in the swamps, but returning to sleep in the house, or 

 at the call of its young mistresses. In a similar manner 

 they tamed the next species, but both disappeared after some 

 months. We saw the latter flying about amid a large num- 

 ber of dogs and cats with perfect unconcern and safety, 

 though a strange bird would have been instantly seized^ espe- 

 cially by the latter. 



71. Rallus pectoralis, Cuv. 



Rarely seen, but generally distributed. Very abundant 

 on the guano island (Huon &c.) at the north, where called 



