Letter from the Pacific. 537 



Sclater's first list of Mr. Brown's birds (P. Z. S. 1877, p. 101) 

 must be identical with what he subsequently determined as 

 G. sclateri. The only known Dicrurus {D. Icemostictus, Sol.), a 

 fine species, is peculiar to New Britain, as is also the wonderful 

 Dicranostreptus megarhynchus to New Ireland. To the 

 single species of Caloriiis (determined as C. nitida, Gray, by 

 Dr. Sclater) I have to add a second, without prolonged middle 

 tail-feathers, and with violet on the nape, back, and throat, 

 and of the uniform metallic-green kind, which comes close to 

 the common Javan species (I believe, C. cantori). Both 

 species are very common, especially C. nitida, which nests in 

 large colonies. Gracula kreffti, Scl., is one of the finest birds 

 in the woods. The Corvus which Mr. Sharpe declares to be 

 C. enca, seems to be not yet satisfactorily determined. It is 

 a common bird, resembling in voice and and manner our 

 Crows, but remarkable for its fine blue eye. Donacicola 

 spectabilis, Scl., is a very grass-loving Finch, and very com- 

 mon in suitable localities. Buceros ruficollis does not occur 

 in Blanche Bay, or rather, I should say, not along the coast, 

 but a little further inland, where it is said to be not at all 

 rare. 



Among the eight Cuckoos, not one is peculiar toNewBritain. 

 I have to add one species, a true Cuculus, very likely the 

 eastern form of our C. canorus. Eudynamis taitensis is one 

 of the few migratory birds. Of Centropus ateralbus (which 

 is a very common species) albinos occur. 



There are eight species of Parrots, of which two are peculiar, 

 namely Cacatua ophthalmica, ScL, and Loriculus tener, Scl., 

 the latter being confined to the Duke-of-York group, and in 

 that group to a certain locality, of which only Mr. Brown is 

 aware. Nevertheless the species may also occur on the coast 

 of New Britain ; but such little birds are very easily over- 

 looked. This is not so much the case as regards Nasiterna 

 pusio, as this small bird is often seen on the outside of the 

 foliage, creeping along the branches and stems of trees. I 

 obtained its egg ; but all my endeavours to keep specimens alive 

 were in vain. The question as regards Eclectus polychlorus 

 and E, linnm being male and female, has been settled long 



