Pachycephala assimilis, Verr. & Des Murs. 461 
the coloration of the figure given; and on comparing speci- 
mens of P. assimilis with the description, it at once became 
apparent to us that this title must smk into a synonym, the 
two being identical. 
Mr. G. R. Gray, in his “ List of New-Caledonian Birds,” 
P. Z. S. 1859, p. 162, says that P. xanthetrea was found 
at the “Island of Nu,” and notes specimens being in the 
British Museum. 
Isle Nu, as is well known, forms part of the harbour of 
Noumea ; and it is not likely that, small as it is, and so close 
to the mainland, it should possess a Pachycephala of its own. 
During a visit paid to it we saw P. assimilis, V. & D. M.(?), 
in several places; and in our three years’ residence in 
Noumea only two species of Pachycephala have occurred to 
us in this neighbourhood—P. moriariensis* and P. assimilis. 
If the specimens still remain in the British Museum, a 
solution of the question is easy enough; and we hope Mr. 
Sharpe will kindly compare examples of P. assimilis with 
them and set the matter at rest. 
MM. Verreaux and Des Murs describe (‘ Revue Zoologique,’ 
1860) both male and female of P. assimilis ; so there is no doubt 
as to the species they indicate; and from their omitting all 
reference to the habitat of P. xanthetrea, simply stating that 
specimens were in the British Museum, it is probable that 
they attributed that name to a species they fancied they had 
not seen. Their description of P. assimilis, however, accords 
well with that given in the ‘ Cruise of the ‘Curagoa.’’?_ With 
Forster’s original description we are not acquainted. 
Noumea, September Ist, 1879. 
{ Note.—On comparing specimens in the British Museum, 
I find that Messrs. Layard’s conjecture is borne out by the 
facts.—H. B. Tristram. | 
* By a lapsus calami we wrote P. xanthetrea for this species in de- 
scribing our first day’s collecting in New Caledonia (Ibis, 1877, p. 357). 
