500 MR. E. L. LAYARD ON BIRDS [JuilC 6, 



aware of their occasional presence ; I therefore include them in the 

 Tongan list, provisionally, with a mark of doubt. 



2. ? ASTUR CRUENTUS, Gould. 



3. ? Circus assimilis, Jard. 



Occasional visitants. This reminds me that a straggler has turned 

 up in Fiji, and must be added to our list. It was shot on the Rewa 

 by Mr. Storck, and has passed into the possession of Baron von 

 tlugel, who, I believe, identifies it as Falco lunatus. I have not 

 seen it. 



4. Strix delicatula, Gould. 



The only resident bird of prey in this group. Common every- 

 where. 



5. Platycercus tabuensis, Gml. 



In answer to my inquiries after birds, I was always comforted 

 with, " Ah ! you should get the black parrot of Eooa ! " and I 

 confess my curiosity was gi'eatly excited. However, as I was bound 

 to Eooa on duty, I confidently expected to get it, and charged all 

 my messmates in H. M.S. 'Nymphe' to shoot every parrot they 

 could see ! 



This Eooa (or E-u-a) is a small island to the south of Tonga 

 Tabu. It appears to me to be a mass of coral, metamorphosed, by 

 the action of volcanic heat under great pressure, into crystallized 

 limestone. It has then been raised to a considerable height (com- 

 pared with Tonga Tabu its near neighbour) above the sea-level, and, 

 having cracked in cooling, is traversed by numerous deep perpendicular 

 fissures. In these flourish a luxuriant tropical vegetation, while the 

 gently rising surface of the island itself is covered with rich grass, 

 on which are depastured some ten or fifteen thousand sheep. As 

 the forest has encroached in places on the pasture-land, the island, 

 viewed from the higher levels, appears like a most beautiful park, 

 and it has the reputation of being the " loveliest island in the South 

 Seas." 



I had to visit one of the stations ; so, arming myself with " Long 

 Tom," and handing my large double " Westly Richards " to a native, 

 I sallied out, determined to get a " black parrot " if possible. I 

 also specially hired a native to go in search of them, and shoot 

 nothing else. 



In one of the deep fissures I heard the undoubted " ka ka " of a 

 parrot, that sounded vastly like that of our Fijian bird ; so, while I kept 

 watch for a flying shot, I sent the native down the perpendicular sides. 

 Presently I heard below me the loud report of my big " ten-bore," 

 followed by the native's shout of triumph ; and he shortly reappeared, 

 bringing me my old friend Platycercus tabuensis. 



Here, then, was a surprise! the " black" parrot turns out a dark 

 maroon ; and here, on this speck of land, and only on it, appears a 

 Fijian Parrot ! ! The more I think over it, the more I am convinced 



