610 Capt. A. M. Farquhar — Oniitholoyical 



of the chanuiiig little Grass- Fiuoh, Erythruru cyaneifruns, 

 which was feeding in flocks on the seeds of a tall grass 

 growing in a coffee plantation. I afterwards shot this bird 

 at Dip Point, Ambrym. 



After an absence of three weeks from the islands, I 

 returned on the 24th of July to Dillon Bay, Eromanga, 

 where I got three specimens of Diaphoropterus naevius, a 

 black and-white bird called by the natives " Oovao/' but 

 could hear nothing of '^ Tardus albifrons," although I made 

 many enquiries. 



While there I went for a picnic with the missionary, 

 Mr. Robertson, and his charming daughters. We lunched 

 in a beautiful spot close to a stream. A stone's throw 

 away, on the other side, Mr. Robertson pointed out a 

 large rock, on which, after the murder of his predecessor, 

 Mr. Gordon, the natives had placed the body, making a 

 small chip on the rock at his head and feet, as a reminder of 

 his size, he being a very tall man. His wife was clubbed at 

 the same time while in her garden at the top of the cliff 

 opposite, along the face of which 1 noticed a pair of Owls 

 flying about. These did not come within shot, so I could not 

 determine them for certain, but fancy they were Strix lulu, 

 as I shot an Owl of this species later on in Espiritu Santo. 



The second week of September found me at Hog Harbour, 

 Espiritu Santo, where I remained some days surveying; it 

 proved the best collecting-ground that I visited. Here there 

 are no traders, and a missionary-station has but lately been 

 established. The neighbouring tribes are generally at war 

 one with another, and the people are very wild. I noticed 

 that they wore bunches of feathers in their hair, almost 

 their only clothing ; these bunches were artistically softened 

 in colour by being smoked. I had hoped to get specimens of 

 the Megapocle here, but though I offered large quantities of 

 tobacco, the natives failed to trap one, and the birds, which 

 inhabit the thickest bush, are very difficult to shoot, as they 

 run on hearing the slightest noise. I obtained, however, about 

 six of their eggs, quite fresh, and saw their laying-places. 

 The eggs are deposited in the damp decaying wood of one of 

 the fallen giants of the forest, the heat set up by fermentation 



