133 Messrs. E. L. and E. L. C. Layarcl on the Avifauna 



X. — Notes on the Avifauna of New Caledonia and the New 

 Hebrides. By Edgar L. Layard, C.M.G., F.Z.S., &c., 

 H.B.M. Consul, and E. Leopold C. Layard, Vice-Consul 

 at Noumea. With Remarks by the Rev. Canon Tristram, 

 F.R.S., C.M.Z.S., &c. 



(Plate V.) 



We have one more novelty to describe from New Cale- 

 donia : — 



~~r— tEgotheles savesi, sp. nov. (Plate V.) 



jEg. supra et subtus nigra, albo pulverulento undulata, hoc 

 colore plurimis striis angustissimis undulantibus et inter- 

 ruptis transversim in unaquaque pluma variegato ; pri- 

 mariis et rectricibus, prseter duas medias et externas, in 

 pogonio externo tantum striatis : pileo nigricante, vix albo 

 variegato ; tarsis nudis. 

 Long, tota 12'8 in., al. 6'6, caudse 6*1, tarsi 1*1, dig. med. cum 

 ungue 1*25, rostri a rict. l'3j rictus lat. 1'25. 



An example of this jEgotheles, which, from its size and 

 coloration, cannot be confounded with any other known 

 species, was caught at Tongue, not far from Noumea, on 

 the night of the 11th of April last, having flown into a 

 bedroom, probably attracted by the light. It was brought 

 to my friend M. Saves by the captor, avIio stated that none of 

 the natives had ever seen any thing like it before. With great 

 liberality M. Saves presented it to us. He describes the 

 irides as being sienna-yellow, and says that the stomach 

 contained small coleoptera. It proved a male on dissection. 

 M. Saves's occupation having taken him through most parts 

 of the island, he has had uniivalled opportunities of col- 

 lecting, but, unfortunately, has not retained many of his 

 specimens, and many have suffered from the destructive 

 agents of a tropical climate. He tells us there are many 

 birds in the forests of the north of the island (that part being 

 much more tropical in its features than the southern end) 

 that are not found about Noumea. This is what we have 

 always expected ; and a collecting-trip to that end of the 

 island is one of our day-dreams. 



