226 Messrs. E. L. and KE. L. C. Layard on the 
Lifu or Maré. In the former it is replaced by the small but 
handsome species under consideration, in the latter by a still 
smaller species, 7. mareensis, L. & T., newly described in 
‘The Ibis’ (1879, p. 472). 
T. pritzbueri is a most shy and wary species, and occupied 
our native hunter in his “‘ nature’s garb ”’ all his time to steal 
on them. The least snap of a twig or rustle of a dry leaf, 
and away goes the suspicious quarry! Some idea of the 
wariness of the allied 7. mareensis may be inferred from a 
letter from-our kind correspondent, the Rev. Mr. Jones, in 
which he says that, though he has had three men out for five 
days hunting especially for them, he has only been able to 
get one specimen! We succeeded better with 7. pritzbuert ; 
but it was always difficult of approach. 
We found males and females in full breeding-c7opyy in the 
middle of August, and also fully fledged young birds in the 
spotted plumage of the well-known European bird. Total 
length in the flesh 8! 9!". Tris darkish drab; bill and feet 
bright orange-yellow, as is the eyelid, which unfortunately 1s 
not properly coloured in the Plate, one result of the unlucky 
loss of our previous paper. 
The thighs of this bird are very stout and powerful, en- 
abling it to progress over the ground in huge bounds. Ifa 
bird is only broken-winged, he is pretty sure to escape in the 
underwood. It is called “ Wathitha,” the Maré bird being 
known under the appellation of ‘““Wassassé”’ on its own island. 
They feed on insects and worms, and are very fond of search- 
ing about the deserted native plantations. We never heard 
them sing; but they invariably utter the well-known metallic 
chinck, chinck, chinck, when hurriedly taking flight on being 
alarmed. 
16. Arramus MELALEUCUS (Forst.). 
The Wood-Swallow is found sparingly in small parties, and 
occurred to both of us. Lifu, “ Khat.”’ 
17. Mytacra tucurert, Tristram, Ibis, 1879, p. 188. 
This and the next species, M. intermedia, L. & T., replace 
M. viridinitens and M. caledonica on Lifu. In habits and 
