Avifauna of the Loyalty Islands. 229 
rather, is more difficult to find. The latter is so pugnacious 
that, on its call being imitated, which it is easy to do by a 
whistle, it instantly flies to the sound to attack its fancied 
rival. In this way E. L. L. once shot four in a little patch 
of wood not twenty yards square, cut off from the main 
forest by cross roads. In this we conceaied ourselves and 
commenced calling, when the challenge was taken up and 
responded to on four different sides, and one after another 
the gorgeous yellow breasts succumbed. 
It feeds on Coleoptera, small snails, flies, and ants, on 
which it darts while at rest on the underside of leaves or 
branches. Males were in full breeding-ctopyy at the end 
of August; perhaps the females were sitting, and this may 
partially account for their scarcity. Length 7” 10!". Baill 
black ; legs and feet purplish brown (in female fleshy brown); 
iris dull dark crimson. Native name “Thuthu.” All our 
informants declared no such bird existed on Maré; and from 
its conspicuous colour and note, it could not fail to be noticed 
if it had been there. 
24. APLONIS ATRONITENS, G. R. Gray. 
We were very pleased to find this fine Starling in con- 
siderable numbers, replacing the New-Caledonian A. cale- 
donica ; which, however, we believe, does occur on the island 
sparingly, though it did not fall under our own observation, 
but was marked from Lifu in the old collection before 
alluded to. 
It is called ‘‘ Zeakheta” (“ Koho” on Maré, if identical), 
and is partial to perching on the summits of tall dead forest- 
trees, roving in flocks, and feeding on berries of all kinds, 
especially those of the banian. Length 9’. Bill and legs 
black; iris orange. The young male resembles the female 
until the first moult. We have little doubt Mr. Gray de- 
scribed from a young bird, and that he and others have done 
so in more instances than one among these Aplones, and that 
all the species described from New Caledonia, viz. A. nigro- 
viridis, Lesson, A. viridigrisea, Gray, A. atronitens, Gray, 
A. caledonica, Bp., A. striata, Gmel., and A. pacifica, Forst., 
