578 MR. E. A. SMITH ON THE GENUS MYODORA. [NoT. 16, 



these localized species. The absence of any reddish-purple cross 

 mark on the galar feathers, the red cap, and the general coloration 

 are the same as in P. fasciatus ; but the tail-feathers have a deep- 

 yellow apical band about 22 millims. in breadth. 



I have the pleasure of naming this species after Mr. Franz Herns- 

 heim, Imperial German Consul at Jaluit (Marshall group), as a 

 slight token of my personal affection, and of my thankfulness for the 

 great help he has rendered to my scientific undertakings throughout 

 my stay in the South Seas. 



2. Ptilopus ponapensis, Finsch, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 779. 



During my stay on the island of Ponape I had the pleasure of 

 examining a considerable series of specimens of this species, and may 

 state that I found the diagnostic characters previously given quite 

 constant, but that to them there should be added the following : — " A 

 distinct dark-green ventral spot, changing in certain lights into dark 

 violet." This ventral spot is always present, and occurs in both 

 sexes. 



I should likewise say that Pt. ponapensis is not confined to the 

 island of Ponape, but inhabits also the Ruk group (Hogoleu). 

 Specimens collected by Mr. Kubary at the latter island agree in every 

 respect with those from Ponape. 



4. On the Genus Myodora of Gray. 

 By Edgar A. Smith. 



[Eeceived September 2, 1880.] 

 (Plate LIII.) 



This genus was indicated by Gray in the 'Synopsis of the Contents 

 of the British Museum' published in 1840, and in the 'Annals of 

 Natural History ' for the same year. In the latter work the name is 

 printed Myadora, and in like manner on p. 136 of the former. 

 Further on, however, on p. 150 in the same work, it is written 

 Myodora; and in the Proc. Zool. Soc. for 1847, p. 191, the author 

 also employs the latter spelling. This orthographic discrepancy 

 is probably due to the printer's misreading of Gray's manuscript ; 

 for he was no calligrapher. 



In the last-mentioued work Gray questions Reeve's propriety in 

 quoting Myndora as of Gray. On this account, and seeing that he 

 himself there adopts the other spelling and that it has been more 

 generally used by authors, although not the first actually published, 

 I shall employ the same word in the present monograph. 



Considerable difference of opinion appears to have existed as to 

 which is the right valve of shells belonging to this genus and which 

 the left. Reeve, Philippi, Chenu, and Woods call the flat valve 

 the right and the deep one the left. On the contrary. Woodward, 

 Gould, and Hutton (copying Woodward) say the left is flat and the 



