Avifauna of the Fiji Islands. 309 



so far as I could ascertain. The body of a female which I 

 skinned was covered with a layer of solid green fat of a 

 peculiarly sweet odour ; this fat was most difficult to remove. 

 There was very little fat on the male specimens procured, 

 but it was yellow in colour. 



I heard this species commonly in the interior of Vitilevu, 

 especially in the higher and more mountainous portions. 

 It was not seen in any of the other islands visited. 



A young bird of a uniform dull green colour, but recently 

 fledged, was captured in August. An attempt to rear it 

 j)roved unsuccessful. 



[ c? ad. June 14,1910. Suva, Vitilevu. Beak and feet 

 emerald-green; circnmorbital skin and line to base of bill 

 very bright green. Wing 117 mm. 



(J ad. June 17, 1910. Suva, Vitilevu. Beak and feet 

 emerald-green ; circnmorbital skin and line to base of bill 

 very bright green. Wing 121 mm. 



$ ad. April 6, 1910. Nasuviu, Vitilevu. Wing 116 mm. 



The males are in perfectly fresh plumage, the female in 

 slightly worn plumage. Not only does the female lack the 

 golden colour, but also the lanceolate feathers seen on the 

 neck and upper parts of the male. 



Dr. Bahr^s observation on the coloration of the fat in 

 a male and female of this species is a further interesting 

 instance of the correlation between the colour of the fat and 

 the colour of the plumage or soft parts in some species of 

 birds, which 1 have for a long time been cognisant of and 

 have referred to in ' The Ibis' for 1911 (p. 746). The whole 

 subject is very little known and still less understood, and 

 would repay investigation by those who have the oppor- 

 tunity.— C. B. T.] 



Chryscenas victor Gould. 



The beautiful Golden Dove of Gould I did not see, though 

 I understand from planters in Taviuni that it is still fre- 

 quently met with in the interior. I was not fortunate in 

 coming across any during my short stay on that island. 



