304 r>i'. P- H. Balir : Notes on the 



of bill at nostrils 9, width 7. Tip of bill pale. In fairly 

 fresh plumage. 



This species was described by Layard from a specimen 

 obtained in Kandavu and said to be a male (' Ibis/ 1876, 

 p. 498), though the label on the type specimen now in the 

 British Museum bears no sex. The bird is apparently very 

 rare, as there is only one example (the type) in the British 

 Museum, though a bird there labelled P. nigrogularis ? I 

 could not distinguish from the type of P. maxima. On 

 writing to Dr. Hartert at Tring, he informed me that 

 there is no example there of P. maxima, and that the 

 female of nigrogularis has a black throat like the male ; so 

 it seems to me that this other specimen in the British 

 Museum is wrongly labelled and is only another specimen 

 of P. maxima.— C. B. T.] 



Artamus mentalis Jard. 



This fine Wood-Swallow is common near Suva, having 

 found the telegraph- and telephone-wires congenial to its 

 habits. It possesses considerable powers of flight, and may 

 constantly be seen gracefully soaring above the forest. I am 

 inclined to believe that it is a partial migrant in Vitilevu. 

 It was much more commonly seen during the hotter 

 weather, November to April, than in the cooler months. 

 This species was also noted in Vanua Vua. 



Aplonis viTiENsis Layard. 



This is about the only musician of a particularly 

 unmusical avifauna ; it possesses a not unpleasing Thrush- 

 like whistle. Not a very conspicuous species, it confines 

 its range to the tops of the tallest trees and was never 

 seen feeding on the ground. It is common in Yitilevu and 

 was seen on Vanua A^ua, but not in the islands of Lakemba 

 or Oneata. 



[cJ. April 28, 1910. Tama Vua, Suva, Vitilevu. 

 Wing 106 mm. 



? . April 28, 1910. Tama Vua, Suva, Vitilevu. Wing 

 101 mm. Iris hazel ; tarsus hazel. 



Both birds are typical and in fairly fresh plumage; those 



