1875.] MR. E. L. LAYARD ON FIJIAN BIRDS. 435 
MYIAGRA CASTANEIVENTRIS (J. Verreaux); F. & H. op. cit. p- 95. 
This Flycatcher is common throughout the islands; and its shrill 
note may be heard in every situation. Nests said to belong to this 
bird have been brought me from many localities; they precisely 
resemble that figured by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub as the nest of 
Ptilotis carunculata, being beautiful compact cup-like structures 
made of fibres and rootlets (horsehair and cowhair being even used 
in some localities for lining), and covered outside with pieces of 
lichen most beautifully stuck in, so as to resemble a knot on a 
branch. They are generally placed on a drooping branch, or in a 
fork, and are about 2 inches in diameter, and 1} deep. One nest 
was placed in the bend of a drooping bough, and from below looked 
a mere excrescence. They build in bread-fruit trees, Casuarina, 
aud, in fact, on almost everything suitable. Mr. Storck writes that 
they are capital watchers, giving warning of approaching hawks. 
Eggs said to be blue. 
ERYTHRURA PEALEI, Hartl.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 99. 
This queer little Amadavat has not occurred to me personally, but 
has been sent me by my kind contributors, Messrs. Storek and 
Abbot, from the Rewa. The former writes, “ Feeds on grass and 
other seeds, and minute insects. Native name ‘ Sithi.’ Tris and 
bill black ; feet and legs a dull pink. Z. pealei occurs sparingly at 
Bua, on the north coast of Vana Levu; was procured there by Mr. 
Tempest.” Kleinsmidt says, “called there Nrisi.”” I saw on the 
plantations on the Navua river, Viti Levu, a small Amadina? in 
flocks, that may have been A. optata; but that is not as yet known 
from any island in the Fiji group. 
APLONIs TABUENSIS (Gmel.); F. & H. op. cit. p- 103. 
This sombre-coloured bird seems pretty generally distributed. I 
obtained it at Randavu and Suva; Messrs. Storck and Abbot on the 
Rewa, my son on Loma Loma, Mr. Liardet on Taviuni. It is said 
to nest in the mangrove scrub; and a nest with slightly hard-set 
eggs, brought me from Wakaia (December 26th, 1874), was a loose 
structure, composed entirely of the fibre-like frond of Casuarina. 
Internal diam. 3", external 5’; depth 1 9'”. Eggs blue (pale), 
and generally spotted with purple-brown spots. The natives on 
the Rewa call it ‘‘ Kikaw.” 
MERULA VANICORENSIS (Quoy & Gaim.); F. & H. op. cit. p. 97. 
Unless my memory much deceives me, this bird was shot on 
Kandavu by Dr. Goode, of H.M.S. ‘ Dido,’ in August 1874. 
PrILINOPUS PEROUSEI, Peale; F. & H. op. cit. p. 110. 
This most lovely Dove, called by some the “ Nutmeg Dove,” 
seems pretty generally distributed, as I have seen it in, and received 
it from, Kandavu, Rewa (on Viti Levu), Ovalau, Wakaia, Mango, and 
Bua (on Vanua Levu). I obtained eggs of it hard-set on October 7; 
1874, aud young birds just beginning to assume the purple of the 
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