18/8.] ON BIRDS FROM THE ELLICE ISLANDS. 271 



the central bands by a tawny dark-edged band ; the cell of the pri- 

 maries is whitish at the base and crossed by a dark-margined spot of 

 the same colour near the end ; beyond it is a similar mark running 

 into the central white band. 



Hub. Volcano of Chiriqui (ArcS). 



Mus. nostr. 



A beautiful and distinct species, coming perhaps nearest A. si/ma 

 (Hiibn.) of S. Brazil. 



PAPILIONIDiE. 



19. Papilio syedra, sp. n. 



S . Exp. 5 in. Allied to P. abderus, Hopff., and P. asclepius, 

 Hiibn., the yellow submarginal lunules of the secondaries being absent 

 as in the former of these two species. From it the present species 

 differs in the row of black lunules which traverse the secondaries be- 

 neath, beyond the yellow band, being distinctly margined on their inner 

 convex edges with maroon, the outer coucave edges enclosing an area 

 of blue ; these marks in P. abderus are respectively grey and yellow : 

 the submarginal lunules beneath on the secondaries are deeper ma- 

 roon than in P. abderus. 



Hab. Volcano of Chiriqui (Arce # Ribbe). 



Mus. nostr. et O. Staudinger. 



We have long possessed a single specimen of this species. Having 

 recently seen others in the collection of Dr. Staudinger, we have been 

 able to test the stability of the characters by which it differs from 

 P. abderus. 



5. On a small Collection of Birds from the Ellice Islands. 

 By R. Bowdler Sharpe, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. With a 

 Note on other Birds found there, by the Rev. S. J. 

 Whitmee. 



[Received January 21, 1878.] 



The Rev. S. J. Whitmee has been so kind as to submit to me a 

 small parcel of birds obtained for him by a collector in the Ellice 

 Islands. The few skins do not give materials for a large paper ; but 

 I trust that the details connected with the synonymy of Anous cceru- 

 leus will be found interesting. 



1. Ardea sacra, Gm. ; Finsch & Hartl. Faun. Central-Polyn. p. 

 201 (1867). 



Two specimens in changing plumage, one with the white dress 

 nearly complete, the other still with plentiful remains of ashy-brown 

 feathers. 



2. Anous c^eruleus. 



I must acknowledge the assistance which I have received from Mr. 



