Chap, xii.] CHLOROPHYLL IN FORAMINIFERA. 



253 



cooing gently, and the great Fruit Pigeon {Carpophaga pacifica), 

 the note of which is harsh and drawling, but still derivable 

 from a coo, is to be shot with ease by creeping up to the trees 

 on the berries of which it is feeding at this season. 



There are two Parrots known from Tonga, but they are very 

 scarce. One of them, Platycercus falmensis, is found only in 

 Tonga and in the neighbouring island of Eua. It is called the 

 Pompadour Parrot, from the peculiar purple red of its head 

 and neck. The natives procure it alive from Eua, where it is 

 abundant. One was bought for a shilling in the port during 

 our stay. The other is a paroquet {Coriphihis friiigiHaceus), 

 but is also scarce in Tonga. I saw neither of the parrots in 

 the wild condition. 



Lizards are abundant in Tonga, but of only two or three 

 species. Otosaurus /iiicrokpis, one of the Scincidte, is peculiar 

 to the group. On the reefs an Eel {Alurccna), whitish yellow- 

 coloured spotted with brown, occurs. It is very snake-like in 

 its movements, and I took it, on encountering it in the water, 

 for the true Sea Snake {Pelamys bico/or), which also occurs here. 



A large Foraminifer {Orbitolites) is very common on the reefs. 

 The shells, as large as threepenny-pieces and like them in 

 form, but of a chalky white colour, were to be seen in hundreds 

 in the shallow pools. I preserved some of these in absolute 

 alcohol, and observed that a green colouring matter was dis- 

 solved out in the spirit. On examining the soft structure of 

 the animals, I found that they were full of minute cells with 

 very distinct transparent walls, which had all the appearance of 

 unicellular alg^. It is possible that the green colouring of the 

 spirit was due to the solution of chlorophyll contained in the 

 cells. The cells are evidently identical with those described 

 by Dr. Carpenter, as existing in Orbitolites, and which he 

 regarded as animal in origin, and describes as having a crimson 

 hue in spirit specimens.* It seems just possible that they 

 may be alga^, existing as parasites within the Fora)ninifera. 

 If so, their presence would, as my friend Prof. Ray Lankester 

 has pointed out to me, give further support to the hypothesis 

 that the well-known yellow starch-containing cells of Radio- 

 lan'ans, are likewise parasitic vegetable organisms, and not 

 essential components of the Radiolariafis, in the bodies of 

 which they occur. 



Matuku Island, Fiji, July 24th, 1874.— We hastened along 

 with the trade wind, and on July 24th were off the island of 

 Matuku, one of the Fiji group, lying about 70 miles east of 

 Kandavu. The island is volcanic, and surrounded by a barrier 



* W. B. Carpenter, F.R.S., etc., " Introduction to the Study of the 

 Foraminifera," Ray Society, lS62, p. 35, PI. IV., fig. i. 



