Collecting-trip in the New Hebrides, &c. 299 
its sandy beaches. Its habitats are the bold rocky shores 
overhanging the surging waves in the Duke-of-York archi- 
pelago. It was in full breeding during August, but I could not 
findanest. Native name “ Ki-ki-outam.” Food entirely fish. 
Hatcyon sanctus, Vig. & Horsf. 
Found on the sea-beaches and marshes only. Another 
Halcyon, much larger, we got only in the thick parts about 
the mountain-slopes ; we never observed it mixing among its 
smaller brethren on. the open shore.. Their habitats being so 
different, their food was different also. The large one ate 
beetles, locusts, and small lizards, and the lesser one con- 
tented himself with fish and sea-worms. Native name for 
both “ Akiki.” 
[This “larger Halcyon,” I was pleased to find, is identical 
with a bird from the Solomon Islands which I have named 
H. tristrami*. LL. Li. was unaware of my having done this, 
and his independent observation on the differences of their 
habits and localities are confirmatory of my view of their 
distinctness.—E. L. L.] 
TANYSIPTERA NIGRICEPS, Scl. 
From Duke-of-York archipelago. Lives in the dense 
forest, and is very shy and difficult to approach. I shot one 
(a male) in a tall tree, and my native pointed me out a de- 
serted ants’ nest, about 25 feet from the ground, with a small 
hole just visible in it. Of course a promise of ‘‘’baccy ” sent 
him up the tree ; but unluckily there were no eggs. The ants’ 
nest was a round mass, a yard in circumference, of rotten 
wood and earth. The Kingfisher appeared to have hollowed 
out a little tunnel communicating with a chamber. The 
native assured me that the bird sat in this chamber, with its 
long tail lying along the tunnel. He told me the eggs were 
two in number and quite white, and promised to get me 
some, but did not. This was in August. Native name 
** Gea Gea.” 
AuceDo Motuccensis, Blyth. 
Found on the sea-shore only. 
* (Mr. Layard’s description of this species does not appear to have been 
yet published; but Canon Tristram has received an example of the bird, 
and believes it to be a good species.—Ebp. | 
