70 



insular forms have less jtowera of flight than the same 

 forms when inhabiting a larger space. 



There are two other species of this genus found 

 in these parts, one Tinnuncuhis Neiotoni in Madagas- 

 car, and the other Tinnunculus gracilis in Seychelles 

 and these species are found no where else. 



The " Merle " is only found in the forests, I be- 

 lieve it is strictly frugiverous. A very bad practice 

 exists here of killing this species about Christmas 

 time, the height of the breeding season, when the 

 death of- one bird, means the death of a whole brood. 

 The " Merle " lielongs to a genus which is widely 

 spread over the old world, but the species in Mauritius 

 is peculiar ; there are other species in Madagascar, Sey- 

 chelles and Reunion, but they all differ from one ano- 

 ther (see a paper by my brother on the genus Kypsi- 

 l^edes which I lately sent to the Society.) 



The same may be said of the " Cuisinier " and 

 the " Cateau, " they are both peculiar to the island 

 but are much shot down and frequ,ently in the middle 

 of the breeding season. 



The '^ Pigeon Hollandais, " and '' Eamier " are 

 much scarcer than they were when I first knew Mau- 

 ritius. The former is also, found onhj in this island 

 and there is no other species of the same subgenus in 

 the world. The " Ramier '^ I believe was introduced 

 here from Madagascar but it is a very delicate morsel 

 to eat, and certainly like tlie partridges and quails 

 should be protected. 



