1875. ] MR. E. L. LAYARD ON FIJIAN BIRDS. 431 
rally distributed. It nests in low bushes; and many of its “ pro- 
creant cradles” have been brought to me, but never any thing like 
that wonderful structure figured by Finsch and Hartlaub in their 
‘Ornithologie.’ That must be quite abnormal, I should fancy. All 
I have seen resemble those of the species inhabiting Ceylon and the 
Cape of Good Hope, being composed of moss, fine fibres, cobweb, 
&c., and lined with the fine black rootlets of some plant. They are 
usually placed in the upright fork of two or more twigs, and vary in 
depth outside according to the angle of its supports. ‘The eggs, 
three to four, are turquoise blue; axis 8”, diam. 6”.- In habits it 
resembles the “‘ White-eyes”’ of other countries. Mr. Storck writes, 
“‘very destructive to imported as well as native fruit.” Bull and 
legs very pale livid brown; lower mandible almost white. Iris pale 
grey brown. 
ZOSTEROPS EXPLORATOR, Layard, P. Z.S. 1875, p. 29. 
Resembles Z. flaviceps, but is yellow, not grey, on the chest. 
One specimen only was obtained; and before I could obtain a 
detailed description of it, it was packed away for transmission to 
Europe. 
Kandavu (H.42.8. ‘ Challenger’). 
Myzometa sucutaris, Peale; F. & H. op. cit. p. 54. 
This little bird replaces in these islands the Nectarinia of India. 
Any person conversant with the one would, on first seeing and hearing 
these birds, fancy he had before him some of his old friends. They 
abound about the cocoanut-trees, eagerly searching their flowers for 
minute insects; they are also found in the forest region, at the 
greatest altitude that I have been. Like their prototypes, they are 
very quarrelsome, chasing each other with shrill cries, darting and 
turning about among the foliage, often grappling in the air, and 
falling a considerable distance before they disengage from their 
struggle. Young birds want the red on the head and rump. The 
natives call them “ Dreui-n’dela-kiela.”’ Bill black ; legs dark livid ; 
soles of feet yellow; iris grey brown.  , full breeding, 1°175 inch. 
Native name “ Keri-keri-sai.” 
MyYZoMELA NIGRIVENTRIs, Peale; F. & H. op. cit. p. 56. 
Non vidi. 
PriLotis pRocERior, F. & H. op. cit. p. 62. 
Common on some of the islands, viz. the north of Viti Levu, 
Ovalau, and Waikaia; on Kandavu mingled with the next species, 
sparingly ; on Loma Loma replaced, as far as I yet know, by what I 
take to be Ptilotis carunculata, or a new species. In common with 
the others it has a loud clear ringing whistle, which is chiefly heard 
in the early morning or the afternoon. It is very partial to the 
cocoanut-trees, hunting for insects amid the flower-sheaths; but it 
is also found on the Iri trees and others, though not commonly in 
the forest proper. . 
