1875. | MR. E. L. LAYARD ON NEW BIRDS FROM FIJI. 149 
the length of the whole eye-area. The form of the vulva is very 
complicated ; this organ consists chiefly of a large, broad, almost 
triangular or heart-shaped, corneous, slightly elevated, uneven black- 
ish area, the base of which is directed forwards; this area shows a 
longitudinal furrow in the middle, and two other shorter and oblique 
ones on each side: in front the vulva is limited by a raised margin 
curved backwards ; and in the almost half-moon-shaped space between 
this margin and the base of the triangular area are two corncous 
obtuse teeth proceeding from the angles, and directed inwards'T.nd 
forwards. The two examples seen by me are females. In the larger 
of them the length of the cephalothorax is 63 millims., its breadth 
5 millims., breadth of forehead (clypeus) 3 millims., height of clypeus 
13 millim. ; length of mandibles 3 millims. ; first pair of legs 32 millims. 
(patella + tibia 103, tibia 8), second pair 29, third pair 22, fourth 
pair 24 (patella + tibia 7%, tibia 6) millims.; length of abdomen 113, 
breadth 54 millims. 
From Madagascar. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXV. 
Fig. 1. Nephila labillardierii 2, p. 1380. Cephalothorax and abdomen, seen 
from above. 
2. Nephila labillardierit 2, var. 
3. Epeira cupidinea 9, p. 135. 
4, Lathrodectus geometricus 2, p. 138. Abdomen, seen in profile. 
6. Descriptions of some supposed new Species of Birds from 
the Fiji Islands. By E. L. Layarp, F.Z.S., H.B.M.C, 
administering the Government. 
[Received February 24, 1875.] 
1. LALAGE NIGROGULARIS, Sp. Nov. 
General colour above brown, below cinereous ; top of head cinereous; 
each feather having a pale edge, presents a slightly scaled appearance ; 
wing-feathers brown, inner webs darkest, outer webs slightly tinged 
with greenish yellow on the outer edge; tail-feathers in strong light 
closely barred ; covering the nostrils is a patch of black extending into a 
broadish eyebrow : this coalesces with the black of the throat behind 
the ear, which is covered by a large white patch; above the black eye- 
brow a faint whitish streak ; chin and upper portion of throat black, 
this separated from the cinereous of the underparts by a broken, 
irregular, white band; vent and under tail-coverts whitish, tinged 
with isabella colour; underside of wing- and tail-feathers paler than 
the upper, the latter much paler at the tips ; upper edge of the wing 
inside deep black ; axillaries whitish ; bill and legs blue, changing 
into black after death ; iris brown. Length 8", wing 4! 1!", tail 
3! ol! tarsi 1 1", bill. yt git, 
This description is taken from a male in full breeding-plumage, 
testes well developed, shot on the 16th of November, on the hills at 
the back of Levuka. The natives to whom it was shown did not know 
