136 Messrs. E. L. and E. L. C. Layard on the Avifauna 



I may here observe that Mr. Gurney, havinoj examined my 

 adult specimen of U. torqiiata from Aneiteum^ New Heb- 

 rides^ is inclined to think it not absolutely identical with the 

 true U. torquata, but somewhat intermediate between it and 

 U. approximans. I trust, however, that he will discuss this 

 point himself in the pages of 'The Ibis.^ I have also just 

 passed over to Mr. Gurney a specimen of U. alb'igularis, col- 

 lected by Lieut. Richards, R.N., in the Solomon Islands, in 

 a state of plumage hitherto undescribed, of which also I trust 

 your readers will hear more. — H. B. T.] 



[Chalcites ? 



The Chalcites of New Caledonia, of the identity of which 

 Mr. Layard is in doubt (Ibis, 1878, p. 253), is C. lucidus (Gm.) , 

 the same as the Australian bird. — H. B. T.] 



EsACus MAGNiROSTRis (Geoffr.). 



We forget if we have recorded the capture of this fine 

 species. It is omitted from MM. Verreaux and Des Murs's 

 list in the 'Revue Zoologique,' 1880, but included by M. 

 Marie in the ' Actes de la Societe Linneenne de Bordeaux/ 

 t. xxvii. 1870. It is common at the north of the island on 

 Huon Islands ; and Lieut. Richards, commanding H.M. 

 Gunboat ' Renard,^ shot specimens on the eastern side of the 

 Wodin Pass, not far from Noumea. 



We are indebted to a fair correspondent on Aneiteum for 

 the addition of several birds to those already registered from 

 that island [cf. Ibis, 1876, p. 259). Our kind friend actually 

 took lessons in skinning from us that she might supply us 

 with specimens ; and her first attempt would not have dis- 

 credited many an amateur of several years' standing. 



Among the collection sent us lately occur the following 

 not noticed by Canon Tristram [loc. cii.) : — Urosjnzias ap- 

 proximans, young and adult*, Charadrius fulvus, Actitis 

 incana and lanthcenas leopoldi, Tristram (Ibis, 1879, p. 193). 



Through the kindness of the Premier of New South Wales, 



* [This must certaiuly be the variety of U. torquata ah-eady noted by 

 me from New Hebrides. — H. B. T.] 



