18/6.] OF THE FIJIAN ISLANDS. 505 



vestigation, in connexion with the distribution of the Megapodes, as 

 they seem to be confined, more or less, to them. 



Captain Suttie informed me that on Savo (Solomon Islands) he 

 found the sea-shore divided into "paddocks" by stone walls, having 

 no enclosure at the back, which led into the bush. These belonged 

 each to an individual, or a family ; and no one poached on his 

 neighbour's ground. The Megapodes came down to the beach to 

 lay their eggs in the sand, merely scratching a hole like that of a 

 rabbit, and leaving it open after them. All eggs found in these 

 enclosures belonged to the owner of the plot of ground. The birds 

 made no nest, or mound, of any sort. Captain Suttie took some 

 eggs on board ; and they hatched in a box in his cabin ! They fed 

 on minute insects which they found in the sand brought on board 

 with them, which they turned over continually ; when these failed 

 they died. 



I have to make the following additional emendations on my 

 "Notes on Fijian Birds" {anted, p. 423 et seq.). 



A new Parrakeet must be added to the list, Trichoglossits 

 aureocinctus, mihi, found in various places, chiefly Taviuui, Viti 

 Levu, and Ovalau. 



Eudynamis taitiensis, Sparrm. 



My son and I obtained this Cuckoo on Wakaia, and saw several 

 specimens, in the middle of September last. 



Halcyon cassini, F. & H. 



I cannot satisfy myself of the distinctness of this species from 

 H. sacra. I do not think more than one form of Halcyon is found in 

 Fiji ; but they differ much at different ages ; the sexes also differ. 



Ptilotis provocator, Layard. 



The egg is pale salmon-colour, generally speckled, but chiefly at 

 the obtuse end, with largish spots of dark brown and indistinct 

 purple. Axis 1", diam. 1 ■§■'". 



Turdus vanicorensis, Quoy et Gaim., 



has not been found in Fiji. We however, possess three true " Black- 

 birds": — T. bicolor, Layard, from Kandavu ; T. vitiensis, Layard, 

 from Bua ; and T. tempesti, Layard, from Taviuni. I expect 

 others will turn up in Viti Levu. 



Ortxgometra quadristrigata, Horsf. 

 Inhabits the mountainous interior of Viti Levu. 



Strepsilas interpres, Linn. 

 Shot on Koro by my son. 



Sterna melanauchen, Temm. 



Several have been shot by my son, on the reef at Levuka. 



