Letters from the Pacific. 113 



very sweet songster, of which Kittlitz, Zelebor, and others 

 speak with admiration. Of Eudijnamis taltensis I obtained 

 a single specimen, in very worn pkimage, showing the shafts 

 of the tail-feathers nearly naked. This species, of which only 

 New Zealand is known as the true breeding-place, appears in. 

 Ponape, as in all other Micronesian islands, only as a migra- 

 tory bird, or rather straggler. I had supposed the same was 

 the case with our Short-eared Owl {Aslo brachyotus) ; but 

 Mr. Kubary told me that this bird is stationary on the island, 

 and showed me eggs of it. Of the Pigeons I can only repeat 

 what I said in my letter from Kushai — that both [PtUopus 

 ponapensis and Carpophaga oceanica) are plentiful, and have 

 the same manners and habits. Although the Ptilopus be- 

 longs to a different species, I found no difference in the voice 

 of this species and the one found in Kushai ; perhaps sharper 

 ears than my own would be able to detect some difference, 

 even as many years ago when old Pastor Brehm professed to 

 be able to distinguish Certhia brachydactyla by the peculiarity 

 of its cry, although nobody else could distinguish the species. 



What I could say with regard to the Grallae and Sea-birds 

 would be what I have already said in my letter from Kushai, 

 or in my former letters ; therefore I avoid repetition ; but I 

 may mention that, according to the observations of Mr. Ku- 

 bary, Charadrius fidvus, as well as the Strepsilas, Actitis, and 

 Numenius are true birds of migration, resorting to Ponape in 

 the winter, although stray specimens of each of these species 

 may be seen the whole year round. The two kinds of Anous, 

 as well as Gygis, live in the same way as on Kushai ; but it is 

 a singular fact, and seems worthy of special mention, that two 

 species of true Terns [Sterna heryii and S. melanauchen) occur 

 here, whereas they are wanting on Kushai. Sterna fuliyi- 

 nosa, enumerated by me among the birds of Ponape (P. Z. S, 

 1877, p. 781) should be erased, having been erroneously sent 

 to me as coming from that island. The breeding-places of 

 Puffinus obscurus are the highest mountain-tops ; and they 

 have been reached only by Johann Kubary. 



In my letter from Kushai I forgot to mention Jungle- 

 fowls, which are also plentiful on Ponape ; but on both islands 



SER. IV. VOL. V. I 



