Letter from the Pacific. 535 



as this is not possible ; for they are so singular and do not 

 show any resemblance to the voices of birds at home with 

 which we are familiar. The most remarkable notes, however, 

 are those of Philemon cockerelli, Gracula kreffti, Calornis ni- 

 tida and another species of the same genus, Monarcha alecto, 

 Sauloprocta Melaleuca, Halcyon sanctus, Corvus enca, the Cen- 

 tropi (which resemble the bellowings of a bull),, and of certain 

 species oi Eclectus and Trichoglossus, as well as of such Pigeons 

 as (Edirrhinus insolitus and Carpophaga rubicera. The natives 

 have distinctive names, not only for all the birds, but even for 

 nearly all other vertebrates, and also for the larger beetles, 

 butterflies, and spiders. Many of these names are eupho- 

 nious and even good, such, for example, as " Kick,^' for 

 Halcyon sanctus, " Kararak " for Dicrurus Icemostictus, " Kot- 

 kot " for Corvus enca, '^ Ka-uk " for Eudynamis picatus, 

 " Gilian " for Gracula kreffti, and so on. Although there are 

 many strange and sometimes not unmelodious voices, there 

 is not a single singing bird which can be compared with any 

 of ours at home. The Nectariniee {N.frenata and N. as- 

 pasia) have a sort of short and slow song, of which that of 

 the latter contains a note not unlike that of our Sylvia gar- 

 rula ; but it has no strength or persistence. The best songster 

 seems to be, perhaps, the little Cisticola ruficeps. 



To proceed to a brief review of the species, and beginning 

 with the birds of prey, there are nine diurnal and three noc- 

 turnal species of this group. Amongst the latter only one 

 species {Ninox odiosa, Scl., which I consider to be nothing 

 but an Athene) is peculiar to New Britain. I may also men- 

 tion that I strongly suspect that what Dr. Sclater has deter- 

 mined as " Accipiter etorques, Salvad.," will tm^n out to be 

 a diflFerent and peculiar species, distinguished by the uniform 

 plumbeous tail-feathers. This species and Haliastur gir- 

 renera are common birds of prey, all the others being very 

 rare, and seen only occasionally. Of the very interesting 

 Henicopernis longicauda, notwithstanding high rewards offered 

 to the natives, I only got one example. I have also to add 

 to the list Falco melanogenys, which, I think, Mr. Brown has 

 not obtained. 



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