On two new Finches of the Genus Erytlirura. 543 



Hebrides. L. L. did not see any during his several visits ; 

 and we therefore conclude that the species is as yet unknown. 



The throat contained round red berries, probably seeds of 

 some species of banian. The entrails &c. had been removed, 

 and the sex was undiscoverable. 



[Note. — It is, perhaps, rather bold to question a species 

 without having seen the specimen ; but I am disposed to demur 

 (first) to the fact of this being a new species, and (secondly) 

 to the differentiating characters given by my friend. 



In measurements it agrees exactly with Calornis cantoroides, 

 G. R. Gray, a very widely extended species, though it is quite 

 possible that, as the Loyalty Islands possess their peculiar spe- 

 cies {C.atronit ens), the New Hebrides may also have their own. 

 But the rufous colouring of the body and the chestnut wings 

 appear to me to be merely a variation to which the whole 

 Starling tribe are liable. I have before me, as I write, a 

 specimen of Sturnus vulgaris, shot at Darlington, of which 

 the whole upper surface and wings are uniformly bright 

 rufous; this specimen I exhibited at a meeting of the 

 Zoological Society. I have also before me a specimen of 

 Calornis from the Solomon Islands, collected by Capt. 

 Richards, R.N., which has the wings and tail chestnut, but 

 which, in the absence of a larger series, I should certainly 

 hesitate to describe from these characters. It is certainly 

 neither Calornis metallica, nor C. cantoroides, both of which 

 occur in the Solomon Islands, but is most nearly allied to 

 C. atronitens, yet with diiferent reflections. In either case I 

 should prefer to wait for other specimens before deciding a 

 species from what I suspect to be accidental characters. — 

 H. B. T.] 



XLIV. — On two apparently neiv Finches of the Genus Ery- 

 tlirura, with Remarks on other known Species of the Group. 

 By P. L. ScLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. 



(Plate XV.) 



Mr. J. K. Howard, F.Z.S., has kindly placed in my hands 

 the skin of a Finch of the genus Erythrura which was shot 



