1888.] BIRDS FROM GTJADALCANAR. 183 



rei" (CM. Woodford). Totallength 12*5 inches, culmen 0-95, 

 wing 8, tail 5*7, tarsus 2"25. 



Hab. Aola, Guadalcanar. 



This might possibly be a melanotic form of Astur woodfordi de- 

 scribed below, but I cannot imagine that melanism would remove all 

 trace of the vinous half-collar which is seen on the last-named species. 

 It can in no case be a melanism of Astur albiguluris, of which Mr. 

 Woodford procured a male specimen with the wing 11*5 inches. 



Astur woodfordi, sp. n. 



Adidt male. General colour above dark slate-colour, slightly 

 darker on the mantle and lesser wing-cover(s ; quills and tail-feathers 

 blackish, externally dark slate-colour, the latter with numerous 

 indistinct dusky bars on the inner web ; crown of head, ear-coverts, 

 and cheeks blacker than the back, with a wash of slaty-grey, lighter 

 on the latter ; sides of cheek deep vinous chestnut, extending back- 

 wards round the hind neck, which is strongly washed with dark 

 slaty grey, so that only a half-collar of chestnut is formed : entire 

 under surface of body pure white, the sides of the fore neck 

 washed with vinous chestnut ; under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 pure white ; quills slaty grey below, blacker towards the ends, white 

 at the base freckled with grey : " bill black ; cere and legs yellow ; 

 iris red" {C. M. Woodford). Total length 14 inches, culmen 0'95, 

 wing 8"5, tail 5"8, tarsus 2"4. 



Hab. Aola, Guadalcanar. 



It vtill be noticed that the specimen of A. woodfordi is of about 

 the same size as the type of A. holomelas, and if the latter should 

 ultimately be proved to be only a melanism of the white-breasted 

 Goshawk, I wish the species to be known by the name of its dis- 

 coverer. 



Astur sheb^, sp. n. 



Adult male. Similar to Astur dampieri of New Britain, and of 

 the same pale pearly-grey colour, but easily distinguished by its 

 white under wing-coverts, very pale reddish-white thighs, and white 

 under tail-coverts : " bill black : cere and legs yellow ; iris brown " 

 {Woodford). Total length I2'5 inches, culmen 1, wing 7*3, tail 

 S-*, tarsus 2-2. 



Mr. Woodford also sends a female, which is rather larger than the 

 male (wing 8'5 inches), but the specimen is not fully adult. 



Fam. BuBONiD^. 



NiNOX GRANTI, Sp. n. 



Adult male. General colour above uniform chocolate-brown on 

 the mantle and upper back, the upper tail-coverts slightly mottled 

 with dull white or rufous-white bars, and again on the upper mantle 

 and scapulars ; lesser wing-coverts uniform chocolate-brown ; median 

 and greater coverts dusky brown, with a large rounded spot of white 

 on the outer web ; bastard-wing like the wing-coverts ; primary- 

 coverts uniform chocolate-brown ; quills dark brown, externally 



