426 MR. E. L. LAYARD ON FIJIAN BIRDS. [June 1, 
This species is characterized by possessing a musky smell, resem- 
bling that of a he goat. I supposed it originated from the trees in 
the holes of which they breed; but having obtained some very 
young birds, I noticed they did not smell. Since, however, that 
they have attained their full plumage the odious scent has come to 
them. They are easily reared, become very tame, and may be 
trusted with their liberty, foraging for themselves in the forest, and 
returning to roost to their old nursery. A young lady of my 
acquaintance has two which thus fly at liberty ; and my own birds 
keep to the house, and never dream of flying away. In certain 
lights their plumage is shot with a beautiful golden sheen, which 
becomes dim in a dead specimen. The iris changes from brown in 
the nestling to a brick-red with a dash of orange in it in the adult ; 
the bill is dark horn-colour, with a whitish tip; the feet livid black. 
In habits they resemble the former species, and keep to the same 
description of country, forest and wooded river-banks. Breed in 
holes of trees, and lay two eggs; axis 1” 6’, diam. 1” 3’. Called 
“ Vanga”’ at Bua (Holmes). 
The nestling of this Parrot is green above, feathers here and there 
tipped with white down; black on the face scarcely showing. Body 
covered with black down, with a row of bright yellow feathers 
changing into orange on the belly and vent on each side ; outside the 
yellow cere a few green feathers appearing. Bill horn-colour, with 
the edges, tips, and bases of mandibles orange. Thighs nearly naked. 
Tarsi livid. Iris brown. 
Lorivus souitarivs (Lath.); F. & H. op. cit. p. 23. 
This lovely little bird, called “Kula” by the natives (and solt- 
tarius by Latham, ‘‘ because it is never seen alone” ), is found through- ~ 
out the islands, its favourite food being the flowers of the Erythrina 
when in bloom, or those of the cocoa-nut when others fail. The 
collector, if he wants these little beauties, need only seek some tree 
in flower on which they feed, and sooner or later every flock in the 
district will visit it. JI have heard of sixteen being killed off one 
tree in a morning’s shooting. They are trapped in great numbers 
by the natives for sale to the Tongans and Samoans, who periodically 
pluck them, their crimson feathers being much used for ornamenta- 
tion. Europeans find much difficulty mn keeping them alive, even 
for a short period; but I am told the native girls chew sugar-cane 
and berries, and allow the birds to feed from their lips. 
Cucuuus stmus, Peale; F. & H. op. cit. p. 28. 
This rare Cuckoo was obtained (a single specimen) by the 
‘Challenger’ Expedition at Kandavu early in August; two indi- 
viduals were killed on Taviuni by Mr. Liardet in November; and 
Mr. Storck procured for me a pair consisting of a young male and a 
female in January 1875. He says they frequent the darkest, densest 
portion of the forest, and only betray their whereabouts by their 
whistling notes. 
