Collecting-trip in the New Hebrides, &c. 293 
The cere in the Vate bird extends further back over the 
eye than in the New-Caledonian ; perhaps in the latter it is 
contracted more in drying. The Vate bird is close to the 
Samoan species, and I believe them all to be simply races of 
P. vitiensis of Peale.—E. L. L.] 
From Havannah Harbour we steered straight across to San 
Christoval, one of the Solomon islands, and anchored in 
Mahira Harbour, after a wretched passage, diversified by 
fierce squalls, calms, intense heat, and attacks of fever. We 
arrived at midday, and I went ashore at once. Directly I 
landed I shot a pair of Lorius chlorocercus out of a cocoanut- 
tree ; then an example of Rhipidura rubrofrontata, displaying 
the usual fan-like tail-action of all the genus. I saw a black 
Myzomela flying about, but did not procure it; this bird has 
been sent home by Lieut. Richards*. A fine species of 
Ptilopus was very common. I was just raising my gun to 
fire at a beauty, when my head suddenly became so giddy, 
that I was obliged to sit down and remain quiet till I re- 
covered. I then came back to the beach, abandoning my 
shooting. It was a very sudden and bad attack of fever! 
Waiting for the boat, I noticed a white-bellied Flycatcher 
flirting his tail on the top of “ King Tye’s”’ canoe-house. I 
collected enough strength to hold the little gun straight, 
and found it was Sauloprocta melaleuca. When I got on 
board I tried to skin the half dozen birds I had, but could 
not, and was obliged to go to bed instead! Next day also 
I was too unwell to handle a gun, and could only skin 
several different kinds of Parrots, a Dendrochelidon, and 
other birds that Lieut. Richards and the boatswain brought 
on board. The day after (22nd May) we set sail for New 
Britain, and anchored in Blanche Bay during the first week 
in June. Blanche Bay is a splendid harbour, about fifteen 
miles in length, measuring from Gazelle Point to the head 
of the bay. This side, the southern, for the greater part of 
its length, rises with a gentle slope towards the great central 
chain of mountains, and is a waving mass of cocoanut- and 
* [See Ibis, 1879, p. 489,—Epp. | 
