the Genus Macropygia. 229 



tween this and the previous species {M. mackinlayi) from 

 Tanna, they may hereafter prove identical : the style of 

 markings is very similar ; but the bill in M. rufa is stronger 

 and more rounded at the tip ; both have comparatively weak 

 bills, and on the whole are very slightly built birds/' 



12. Macropygia rufo-castanea. 



Macrbpygia rufo-castanea, E. P. Ramsay, Pr. Linn. Soc. 

 N. S. W. iv. (1880) p. 314 (read June 1879); Ogilvie- Grant, 

 P. Z. S. 1888, p. 200. 



Macropygia arossi, Tristr. Ibis, 1879, p. 413 (San Cris- 

 toval, Solomon Is.). 



Female, adult (Guadalcanal*, Mus. Brit.). Above reddish 

 chestnut : beneath cinnamon-rufous, paler on the throat ; 

 tail beneath the same, much brighter on the outer pair 

 of feathers, and the three outer pairs having a dark band 

 across each feather extending towards the base of the inner 

 web ; primaries, beneath, bright cinnamon-rufous on the 

 inner web ; under wing-coverts and axillaries cinnamon- 

 rufous ; breast-feathers forked as in M. rufa, black at base 

 and tipped with rufous. Wing 5*7 inches, tail 6*3, tar- 

 sus 0*7, bill 0*7. Iris orange ; bill black; feet red {Wood- 

 ford). 



Female, young. Head-feathers black at base and a black 

 spot on either web; tail-feathers more pointed. Wing 5*3 

 inches. Iris reddish brown ; bill black ; legs dull pink. 



Female, younger. Like the last, but the breast-feathers not 

 forked. Wing 5*7 inches. Iris brown ; bill black ; feet red 

 {Woodford). 



I have not seen an adult male, but it is probably like the 

 female, with the exception, perhaps, of the spotted breast. 

 I have examined an immature male, however, the type of 

 M. arossi, in the museum of Canon Tristram; it is nearly 

 adult and is like the female, but the breast-feathers are not 

 forked. Another young male is in the British Museum : it 

 is like the last, but slightly barred above. Wing 5*3 inches. 

 Iris light drab ; feet dark cherry. Food, berries (San Cris- 

 toval, Richards). 



Hab. Solomon Islands. 



SER. VI. VOL. II. R 



