292 Dr. P. H. Balir : Notes on the 



depredations of the Mongoose. I saw one individual in 

 captivity from there ; it was a very liandsome bird, resembling 

 P. splendens in every way, save th:it the prevaiHng colour of 

 the breast was dark maroon instead of scarlet; the blue nuchal 

 collar is as well marked as in P. splendens. From Vanualevu 

 this species has been introduced, it is said, to the island 

 of Eua in the Tonga group. I had one specimen in cap- 

 tivity obtained there. It is now in the Zoological Gardens, 

 and resembles in every way a bird obtained in Vanualevu 

 which has been there several years. 



Pyrrhulopsis taviunensis (Layard). 



This is quite a distinct species, having a much stouter 

 head and beak than the preceding, with shorter wings and 

 tail. The breast is maroon-coloured, and there is no blue 

 nuchal collar. It is still quite common in Taviuni ; examples 

 shot there in December were in full moult. A pair of young 

 birds were brought back alive to England, one of which is 

 now in the Zoological Society's Gardens. 



These young birds resembled the adult in plumage; the 

 iris, which at first was of a deep brown colour, changed to 

 yellow when they were seven months old. They were in 

 full moult on their arrival in this country, when they were 

 about live months old. 



Pyrrhulopsis personatus (Gray). 



This species is peculiar to the island of Vitilevu ^, whence 

 it is fast disappearing. Large flocks used commonly to be 

 seen round Suva and on the liewa Eiver. 



A few can still be seen in the mangrove-swamps which 

 border the harbour at Suva. After the hurricane in March 

 five frequented our garden for a few days. The specimen 

 which I then shot was in moult and was covered with 

 feather-lice, especicilly on the head. It is said that no 

 young have been taken by the natives for years, and t - 

 sequently the bird is now seldom seen in captivity. I 

 possessed one which was taken as a nestling on the Rewa 



* Dr. Finsch procured a specimen alive at Levuka (P. Z. S. 1877, 

 p. 729), where it had probably been brought from Vitilevu. 



