187".] DR. O. FINSCH ON THE BIRDS OF PONAPfi. m 



Mr. Howard Saunders, in his Monograpli of the Sterninse (P. Z. S. 

 1876, p. 671, confounds this very distinct bird with A. cinereus, 

 Neboux, which latter must, according to his views, bear the name 

 A. cceruleuSy Bennett. 



22. Gygis alba. 



Gygis alba (Sparrm.) ; Layard, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 504. 



Native name Ekiaki (Hiibner). 



One specimen from Eua (August) in the very interesting stage of 

 the young-plumaged bird after leaving the nest. It is white ; but the 

 feathers on the upper parts have narrow edgings of pale rufous. 

 This bird occurs also on Vavao {Hiibner, in litt.). Mr. Layard 

 found it common on Eua. 



23. Phaeton flavirostrts. 



Phaeton flavirostris, Brandt. ; Layard, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 504. 

 Native name Tavaki (Hiibner et Layard). 

 One old female from Eua (August). 



Dr. Griiffe notices as "Tavaki " Ph. cethereus from Tonga (Journ. 

 f. Orn. 1870, pp.403 et 411). 



Mr. Layard got the egg of this species on Eua. 



24. Dysporus sula. 



Bysporus sula (L.), F. & H. Ornith. Central-Polyn. p. 260. 

 Biomedea, sp. ? GrJiffe, Journ. f. Ornith. 1870, pp. 403 et 41 1. 

 Native name Gutulei (Hiibner). 

 One old male from Eua (August). 



The "Gutulei" of natives, which Dr. Graffe supposed to be a species 

 of Biomedea, turns out to be the well-known Booby of the sailors. 



3. On the Birds of the Island of Ponape^ Eastern Carolines. 

 By Dr. Otto Finsch, C.M.Z.S., Director of the Mu- 

 seum of Natural History of Bremen. 



[Eeceived September 26, 1877.] 



The island of Ponape, or Ascension (sometimes written on maps 

 Bonaby, Bonabay, Bornaby, Bonabe, Bonibet, Hunnepet, Funopet, 

 Falupet, Falupit, Fanope, Puynipet) is the largest of the Seniavin 

 group, which extends between 157° 54' and 158° 30' E. long., and 

 6° 43' and 7° 6' N. lat., and belongs to the Eastern Caroline archi- 

 pelago. The island has a surface of about 7| German miles, a cir- 

 cumference of about 13 German miles, and is inhabited by about 

 2000 natives. Having been visited only twice by the French expe- 



