1876.] DR. O. FINSCH ON SOME FIJIAN BIRDS. 19 



63. Gallinago andina, Tacz. 



Gallinago frenata, Scl. and Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 156. 



G. andina, Tacz. P. Z. S. 1874, p. 561. 



Having compared one of Mr. Whitely's skins with M. Taczanow- 

 ski's typical specimens, we find them to be identical, and, more- 

 over, that the bird we attributed in a former paper to the common 

 G. frenata of Eastern South America really belongs to a distinct 

 species, as shown by M. Taczanowski. Without placing much stress 

 upon differences of coloration (a variable and unsatisfactory 

 character in the Snipes), the shortness of the tarsi in G. andina at 

 once shows its distinctness from G. frenata. The other dimensions 

 are nearly the same in the two species : the bills appear to be 

 shorter in G. andina ; but upon this character no value can be placed. 

 Mr. Whitely (P. Z. S. 1869, p. 156) says that "the legs and toes 

 are brownish flesh-colour," i.e. in life. In the skin they are much 

 paler than those of G. frenata ; so that possibly a distinction here 

 exists between the two birds. 



G. Notes on some Fijian Birds, including Description of a 

 new Genus and Species. By Otto Finsch, Ph.D., 

 C.M.Z.S., &c. 



[Received December 8, 1875.] 



The Museum Godeffroy at Hamburg has received a small collec- 

 tion of birds from Mr. Theodor Kleinschmidt, of Ovalau, upon which 

 I beg leave to make a few remarks. I have also the pleasure of 

 describing a curious new Malurine form, which offers a very interesting 

 addition to the avifauna of the Fijis and Central Polynesia. 



Halcyon sacra, Gin. 



One specimen with the blue of the head surrounded by a band of 

 bright buff; the nuchal collar, sides of vent and flanks, the under 

 wing- and tail-coverts also strongly tinged with buff. Apparently a 

 voung bird, agreeing with our descriptions (Finsch & Hartl. 'Orn. 

 Centr.-Polyn.' p. 34, "jungerer Vbgel von Viti") and that of the 

 "young" by Sharpe (Kingf. pi. 85). 



Collocalia spodiopygia, Peale. 



Two specimens, agreeing in every respect with specimens from the 

 Navigators' (Upolu). 



Myzomela jugularis, Peale. 



An old male in full plumage ; rump and upper tail-coverts scarlet; 

 throat and crop pale orange, remainder of underparts yellowish. 



Drymoch^ra, gen. nov. 

 (fyv/jos, sylva ; \aipit), gaudeo.) 

 The systematic position of this new and curious Malurine form 

 is between Camaroptera and Orthotonus. The former has a much 



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