Aves. 39 



2. Chalcophaps natalis. 



Ghalcophaps xatalis, Lister, P.Z.S., 1888, p. 622 : Salvad., Cat. B. Brit. Mus., 

 xxi, p. 520 (l»9a); Sliarpe, Handl. B., i, p. 84 (1899). 



Nos. 24, 26, (J ad. ; No. 25, 9 ad. Flying Fish Cove, August 6, 

 1897. 



S 9 ad. Flj-ing Fish Cove, October 21, 1897. 

 JS^o. 54, 9 ad. Flying Fish Cove, October 21, 1897. 

 No. 55, 5 juv. Flving Fish Cove, October 21, 1897. 

 9 ad. Flying Fish Cove, November 15, 1897. 



Young birds have the greater wing-coverts for the most part 

 rufous, and the under parts irregularly mottled with dusky bars. 

 As Count Salvador! points out, the male is not to be distinguished 

 from some of the males of C. inclica, but the female differs con- 

 siderably from the female of that species. 



[The Ground-Pigeon is by far the most brightly coloured of the 

 birds of Christmas Island. It usually feeds on the ground, and 

 can run rapidly. Though generally seen in pairs, small flocks 

 sometimes occur, particularly near water. The food consists of 

 small fruits. The nest is said to be placed in thickets of screw-pine 

 {Panclanm), but I never saw either it or the eggs. At pairing- 

 time the males fight fiercely, and are said to kill one another 

 occasionally. Young birds are seen in April. In spite of the 

 brightness of its colouring, this bird is difiicult to see, the green 

 of the back and chestnut brown of the breast matching very closely 

 the colours of the leaves and soil. — C. W. A.] 



Order EALLIFORMES. 

 3. Limnobsenus fuscus. 



Lim)iob(enHs fuscHs (Liuu.), Sharpe, Cat. Brit. Mus., xxiii, p. 14G (1894). 



No. 40, 9 ad. Flying Fish Cove, August 29, 1897. 



Iris brownish red, lightest round the pupil ; legs' reddish brown. 



This is an interesting addition to the list. The species maj^ 

 visit the island regularly on migration, but Mr. Andrews only 

 obtained one specimen. 



Order LARIFORMES. 

 4. Anous stolidus. 



Anous gtolidus (Linn.), Saunders, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xx, p. 136 (1896). 



a, ^ ad. Rocky Point, November 15, 1897. 



h, 9 ad. Flying Fish Cove, November 16, 1897. 



