494 mr. e. l. layard on birds [June 6, 



Fijian birds" (P. Z. S. 1875). The description under the head of 

 P. graeffei (p. 43.3) applies to P. icteroides ; and that under P. viti- 

 ensis should be coupled with the latter part of P. torquata, under the 

 head of " P. intermedia, Layard, sp. now" 



P. icteroides, Peale, differs from P. graeffei in being of a much 

 lighter yellow (the other is orange), and in having the nostril-spot 

 much fainter ; indeed in some it is altogether wanting. The female 

 shows still greater differences : that of the first is deep rufous (almost 

 chestnut) ; of the latter, brown with grey- mottled throat and pale 

 buff underparts. 



This species is said to occur in Samoa (Orn. Centr.-Pol. p. 76) ; and 

 a native name, " Vasavasa," is given for it. This, however, is the 

 name applied to the species before alluded to by me ; and, as I have 

 already stated, only one species is known to us from Samoa. 



P. graeffei, Haiti., is, as far as I yet know, confined to the neigh- 

 bourhood of Bua, on Vanua Levu ; and a single female has reached 

 me from Rambi Island, to the north of Taviuni. 



P. intermedia, Layard, is intermediate between my P. torquata 

 and P. icteroides, Peale. It is light-coloured, like the latter, and 

 has only a very narrow black collar. It has been killed on Ovalau, 

 and on the big island of Viti Levu opposite Ovalau. 



P. vitiensis, G. R. Gray, J , has also a narrow black collar, but 

 may at once be distinguished from all the others by the pure white 

 throat and chin. The female is reddish brown below ; cheeks chest- 

 nut; top of head brown, back tinged with green; epulis brown edged 

 with rufous. As yet it has only occurred to me from Kandavu, the 

 southernmost island of the Fijian group. 



17- Lalage terat, Bodd. 



.Very common in Samoa, feeding much on the ground in the gar- 

 dens attached to the European houses, as well as the native planta- 

 tions. This habit I never observed in the Fijian bird, which appears 

 to me less highly coloured than the Samoan. In December there 

 were lots of young ones about, being fed by their parents. A most 

 interesting specimen in this stage occurred to me: it is white beneath, 

 with confused wavy grey bars, above pale brown, each feather being 

 edged and tipped with white. Bill bright yellow. 



18. Aplonis brevirostris, Peale. 



Common throughout the island of Samoa. Feeds much on a 

 small dark purple berry that grows in dense clusters on a fair-sized 

 tree. These birds decompose very quickly ; I was always obliged 

 to skin them the first on my return home, or all the vent-feathers 

 came off. 



19. Sturnoides atrifusca, Peale. 



It is singular this fine Starling should be confined to the Navigators' 

 and not found in the Friendly Islands or Fiji. It was the first bird I 

 saw on landing at Upolu, and involuntarily I exclaimed a "Spreo! " 

 so exactly did its appearance, and flight, remind me of the South- 



