Aves. 39 



2. Chalcophaps natalis. 



Ghalcophaps uatalis, Lister, P.Z.S., 1888, p. 522 ; SalvacL, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., 

 xxi, p. 520 (1893) ; Sliarpe, Haudl. B., i, p. 84 (1899). 



Nos. 24, 26, S ad. ; No. 25, 9 :hI. Flying Fish Cove, August 6, 

 1897. 



S 9 ad. FMng Fish Cove, October 21, 1897. 

 No. 54, 9 ad. Flying Fish Coyc, October 21, 1897. 

 No. 55, S j^iv. Flying Fish C'oye, October 21, 1897. 

 9 ad. Flying Fish Coye, Noyembcr 15, 1897. 



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

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

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

 from some of the males of C. indica, 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 rapidlj-. 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 

 {Pandanus), but I never saw either it or the eggs. At pairmg- 

 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 EALLIFOEMES. 

 3. Limnobaenus fuscus. 



Limnoba»us fuscHS (Liun.), Sliarpe, Cat. Brit. Mus., xxiii, p. 14G (1894). 



No. 40, 9 ad. Flpng 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 may 

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

 obtained one specimen. 



Order LARIFORMES. 

 4. Anous stolidus. 



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



ff, (J ad. Eocky Point, November 15, 1897. 



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



