472 MB. O. SALVIN ON THE AVIFAUNA 



Galapagos archipelago I am inclined to think that Hood's Island is occupied by a 

 species distinct from any yet described. 



" Hood's was the first island of the archipelago that we landed upon ; and I observed 

 that the Mocking-bird was difierent from the common one of the mainland of Ecuador. 

 In the latter country these Thrushes are great favourites with the natives, and I have 

 seen birds reared in large open cages hanging in the garden enjoy full liberty, flying 

 about during the day and being shut up only at night to protect them from being 

 attacked by cats or other animals. It struck me that the beaks of the birds on Hood's 

 Island were larger and more curved, that the birds were more sluggish in their habits, 

 and their voices less melodious than those inhabiting the mainland. Unfortunately I 

 neglected to collect specimens on Hood's Island, thinking I should meet with the 

 species elsewhere, and that I should return to Hood's Island for a longer stay. On 

 reaching Charles Island I found out my mistake, and that the Mocking Thrushes there 

 differed in their livelier and more intelligent habits, and in their superior powers of 

 song. 



"The habits of the Mocking Thrushes of the archipelago are rather predatory. 

 These birds devour insects of various kinds, grasshoppers, and butterflies, which they 

 follow for a long distance, and catch on the wing. This may be the reason why insects 

 of all kinds are so shy throughout the archipelago, whilst all other animals are tame. 

 They I'eadily consume any kind of flesh, whether fresh or putrefying. They are not only 

 tame but bold and audacious. Many times birds have settled on my hat or gun, or 

 keeping near me have driven away smaller birds I was in pursuit of. The birds of 

 Indefatigable Island are excellent songsters ; and their varied notes often led me to 

 believe that I was listening to some unknown species of bird." — //. 



MiMUS PARVULUS. 



Orpheus parvulus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 27. 



Mimus parvulus, G. R. Gray, Zool. Voy. Beagle, iii. p. 6.3, t. xviii. ; Sundev. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 127. 



Supra obscure fuscus uropygio paulo rufescentiore : loris, regione parotica et tectrici- 

 bus auricularibus nigris : secundariis stricte, et tectricibus alarum albo terminatis : subtus 

 albus, hypochondriis fusco maculatis : rosti'o et pedibus obscure corylinis, illo ad basin 

 mandibulse macula pallida notato : long, tota 8*2, alee 3'8, caudge 3-5, tarsi 1'3, rostri a 

 rictu 0-95. 



Hab. Albemarle Island (Darwin). 



Professor Sundevall suggests that M. parvulus is perhaps the young of M. melanotis, 

 and that M. trifasciatus was described from a very old specimen, being unwilling to 

 admit that three closely allied forms inhabit islands so near together. I have examined 

 carefully Mr. Darwin's types in the British Museum ; and the conclusion I have come 

 to is that 



M. trifasciatus is a species very distinct from the other two, the chief points of dif- 



