18/1.] ON BIRDS FROM THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 25 



" Bill black ; iris black ; feet red. Native name, Fiaui, or com- 

 monly Lube." (Kubary.) 



Some interesting notes on the habits of the Lube in Tongatabu 

 have been published by Dr. Graffe (Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 408). 



10. Rallus pectoralis, Less. ; Finsch et Haiti. I. c. p. 156. 



Four specimens, perfectly identical with others from Upolu, the 

 Vitis, Tongatabu, and Australia. 



In two specimens no sign of the cinnamomeous pectoral band is 

 visible ; two specimens show this band strongly indicated, although 

 not yet fully developed. The small white spots on the feathers of 

 the upper parts in three specimens form on the basal portion of the 

 hind neck regular narrow cross lines, which in one specimen are still 

 visible on the upper portion of the mantle. 



Long. al. caud. culm. tars. dig. med. 



5"-5"5'" l"ll'"-2"5'" 12-16'" 18-20'" 16-19'" 



" Bill reddish grey ; iris red. Native name Fea." (Kubary.) 

 That Rallus forsteri, Hartl., is identical with R. pectoralis we 

 have proved already (P. Z. S. 1869, p. 548, and Journ. f. Orn. 18/0, 

 p. 136). We must also express our doubts concerning Rallus 

 hypoleucus, nob. (I. c. p. 163), based upon the "Philippine Rail, 

 var. B," Latham, which seems to be nothing more than an al- 

 binism of R. pectoralis, as suspected by Mr. G. R. Gray. 



Pareudiastes*, gen. nov. 



Char. gen. — Rostrum ut in genere Gallinula, sed ptilosi ab oculis 

 fere ad nares usque producta : scutello frontali parvo, postice 

 rotundato. Ala brevissimce, obtusce, truncates, remigibus 3-6 

 (equali longitudine. Cauda brevissima, lacera, decomposita. 

 Pedes minores quam in Gallinulis / digitus medius tarso brevior, 

 externus interno paullo longior ; unguibus multo magis curvatis 

 quam in genere Gallinula. 



11. Pareudiastes pacificus, sp. nov. (Plate II.) 



Obscure plumbeo-ardesiaca ; margine frontali et regione perioph- 



thahnica holosericeo-nigris, loris plumulis nigris rarius obsitis; 



occipite et dorso fusco-olivascente lavatis ; glabella dilute 



Jiava ; rostro dilute rubente ; pedibus pallide rubris ; alis valde 



truncato-abbreviatis ; cauda vix conspicua. 



Long, circa 10", rost. a fr. 13'", al. 4" 2'", tars. 16"', dig. med. 



Ill o'" 

 8 • 

 Head, neck, and under surface dark slate-colour, on the flanks 



and anal regions changing into olivaceous black ; under tail-coverts 



pure black ; margin of the frontal shield, lores, and space round the 



eyes covered with short velvet-like feathers of a pure black ; sides of 



head, chin, and upper portion of throat also black ; occiput, hind 



neck, and mantle dark olive-brown ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and the 



* "Pareudiastes" (antiquorum) is a water-bird, which comes only in fine wea- 

 ther to land. 



