784 DR. O. FINSCH ON BIRDS FROM NIUAFOU ISLAND. [NoV. 20 



M. pritchardi and M. stairi, F. & H. Ornith. Central-Polyn. 

 pp. 153, 155. 



M. huttoni, Bull. Trans, and Proceed. N.Z. Inst. iii. 1871, p. 14. 



M. pritchardi, Hutt. ib. iv. 1872, p. 165. 



M. (? hurnabyi, Gray), Finsch, Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 420. 



M, stairi, Finsch, ib. 1872, p. 52; Layard, P.Z.S. 1876, p. 496 

 (part.). 



M. burnahyi, Layard, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 583 (part.). 



Native name Malau, Hiibner. 



Male and female, old, and young bird (November 1876). The ivs^o 

 former agree exactly in coloration and size ; the last is considerably 

 smaller, but in colour like the old. 



AL Eostr. a ricfc. Tars, 



in. lin. lin. in. lin. 



6 9 11 2 2 



6 7 11 2 1 



5 5 9J 19 



Since Mr. Layard assures us that M. stairi. Gray, was based on 

 specimens from Ninafu (and not from Samoa, where no Megapode 

 exists) the older name must be applied to this species. 



Mr. F. Hiibner gives us the following observations on this bird : — 

 " The breeding-time of this species is not so confined to certain 

 months as has been noticed by Mr. Wallace in respect of certain 

 Malayan species. He gives as the season of incubation August and 

 September ; but of this bird I got fresh eggs in October and Novem- 

 ber also, and, according to Captain Nagel and the natives, eggs are 

 to be found Ukewise in other months. The newly hatched ones are 

 yellowish-brown with brown undulations ; their necks are feathered 

 and not marked as in the old birds. Immediately after leaving the 

 eggs the young birds are not only able to run, but also to fly. The 

 old birds are excellent runners ; their flight is somewhat heavy, as in 

 the common fowl ; when alarmed they perch on trees. The sto- 

 machs of those specimens which I shot I mostly found filled with 

 land-shells, small crabs, and Scolopendras ; but in a few cases I found 

 seeds. My captured specimens I fed with Blattae and Scolopendras, 

 and the young ones (of which I kept one three weeks) with Termites 

 and mashed cocoa-nuts. They refused to eat yams. The male may 

 be distinguished at once from the female by its orange feet, which in 

 the latter are yellow." 



9. Charadrius fulvus, Gm. 

 Native name Kiu, Hiibner. 



Three specimens shot in October (1876) in change of plumage, 

 showing that this arctic species loses its summer garb in its winter 

 resorts. One specimen has already the full winter dress ; the others 

 are moulting and still show many black feathers on the under surface. 



10. Strepsilas interpres (Linn). 

 Native name Kiu-hina-hina, Hiibner. 



One male in the winter dress (October 1876). 



