464 MR. E. L. LAYARD ON SOUTH-PACIFIC BIRDS. [JunC 5, 



and defensive spicula are common to several species of Geodia, 

 Farrea, and to Alcyoncellum as well as to this sponge. 



If the term hexactinellid, as used by some writers, be adopted as 

 designating the series of sponges which contain the various forms of 

 rectangulate sexradiate spicula, it will embrace a number of genera 

 and species widely differing in the important distinctive characters 

 of their skeletons, upon which the most important characters of their 

 classification must ultimately be founded. 



June 8th, 1876. 



2. Remarks on the exact Localities of some Birds from the 

 Islands of the South Pacific. By E. L. Layard, F.Z.S. 



[Eeceived May 14, 1877.] 



In speaking of " the geographical distribution of the Fruit- 

 pigeons in the numerous islands of the Pacific" (P. Z. S. 1874, 

 p. 94), Dr. Finsch has, I think, committed an error which it will be 

 as well to point out. I have only just obtained my back numbers of 

 the ' Proceedings,' or would have alluded to the matter at an earlier 

 date. Late though it is, I know Dr. Finsch will thank me for 

 assisting him with local knowledge to propagate the truth, an end at 

 which I am sure we both aim. 



Dr. Finsch says, " Ptilinopus fasciatus, Peale, is found on the 

 Feejees, Navigators', and the small island of Uea of the Wallis 

 group." I think, as regards the Navigators' Islands, he is certainly 

 mistaken. The Ptilinopus found there is certainly distinct, what- 

 ever it is. I have not original descriptions to which to refer ; but my 

 idea is (taken from Finsch and Hartlaub's own work, and from the 

 plate in the Mus. Godeffroy) that it is P. apicalis, Bp. In one of 

 my late communications to this Society (see P. Z. S. 1876, p. 495) 

 I have pointed out the differences, which are constant. The bird 

 which I call P. apicalis is never found on Fiji, nor is the Fijian 

 bird which I call P. fasciatus ever found in the Navigators'. 

 Tonga has its own species, which I call P. porpkyraceus ; and it, 

 again, is found, or a very near approach to it, on Fotuna Island. 

 P. fasciatus is found on Viti Levu, Mang-o, and Wakaia Islands. 



I must now point out another error into which my friend Dr. 

 Finsch has fallen. He says, " the beautiful Ghrysoena victor, Gould, 

 is confined to Taviumi\ one of the smallest islands of the Feejee 

 group." So far from Taviuni being one of the "smallest," it is 

 actually one of the four largest islands of the group ; and C. victor is 

 not "confined" to it, but distributed all over the large island 

 of Vanua Levu, and the islands of Rambi, Lanthala, and Kamea. 

 I may add, however, to Dr. Finsch's remarks, that my new Chrgscena 

 (C viridis) is, so far as yet known, confined to the island of Kandavu. 



' I spell this as Dr. Finsch has done. Unlucky island ! how naturalists have 

 misnamed it ! Both in the ' Proceedings ' and in ' The Ibis ' it has been spelt half 

 a dozen different ways ; but the correct way is Taviuni. — E. L. L. 



