528 MR. J. J. LISTER ON THE NATURAL [DeC. 4, 



Ardea jugularis, Forster. 



Several of these birds were seen, flying along by the shore-chff, or 

 on the beach following the retreating waves on the look-out for food 

 in the pools on the dead coral ; their stomachs contained crabs and 

 small fish. Two skins were brought home, one of a male in white 

 plumage, the other of a female in slaty dress. 



Charadrius geoffroyi, Wagler. 



A pair of these Plovers (females) were shot on the shore-cliff. 

 The bird has a wide range in winter \ from South Africa along the 

 shores to India and Australia. 



Tringoides hypoleucus (Linn.). 



A specimen of this very wide-ranging species was obtained. 



Phaethon flavirostris, Brandt. 



These Boatswain birds in fine goUlen pink plumage were very beauti- 

 ful objects, flying among the tree-tops by the shore, or high up, 

 yellow specks against the blue, performing their evolutions with 

 exquisite grace. The two long tail-feathers yielding to the resis- 

 tance of the air add greatly to the beauty of their flight. 



They apparently had nests in the high trees ^. At Flying-Fish 

 Cove a pair of them were frequently seen flying backwards and 

 forwards to and from one particular tree. 



Three were shot and preserved. Both sexes were coloured to the 

 same degree. The stomachs contained the remains of fish and 

 Cephalopods. 



In Professor Brandt's Monograph of the genus Phaethon ^ he 

 says (writing in Latin) in the general account of the genus (pp. 5 

 and 6) : — "In recently killed adult animals, however, the glistening 

 white colour is (perhaps always) more or less tinged with rose or 

 vermilion or red-gold ;" and again, " This same colour, however, very 

 quickly vanishes in specimens exposed in Museums." 



In the plates the adult birds of P. phcenicurus, Gm., and of 

 P.flaviventris, Brandt, are represented of the same rosy tinge. The 

 intensity of the colour in these plates is about the same as in the 

 Christmas Island birds. 



The suggestion that the adult plumage is always of this colour is 

 not, however, correct, as I happen to know from my own experience ; 

 for I obtained a perfectly white specimen of P. jiavirostris from the 

 Seychelles Islands, from a nest which contained a nearly fledged 

 young bird. 



"■ 'The Geographical Distribution of the Charadriidce,' H. Seebohin, p. 147. 



^ In the Seychelles Islands this species builds in the hollow trunks of the 

 dead Capucin trees as well as in tlie clefts of the granite rocks on some of the 

 islands. 



^ Tentamen Monographise Zoologica3 Generis Phaethon. 3. P. Brandt. 

 E commentariis Acad. Scientiarum PetropolitansB Memoires, 6° serie. Scieno. 

 mathem., phys. et nat. t. v. 2nd part. So. Nat. 



