h. ^. Nomuka-iki (J. J. Lister). — Sj^ot very plain on penultimate feather of right side and on 

 penultimate and third feather of left. 



i. (^ . Nomidva-iki (./. J. Lister). — Spot very plain on penultimate and third feathers of both sides. 



k. ^ . Nomuka-iki (J. J. Lister). — Spot distinct on penultimate feather of both sides, with a faint 

 trace of a white spot also on the third feather of the left. 



I. Aneiteum (J. Macgillirruy). — An obsolete whitish spot on the outer feather on both sides, a spot 

 also traceable ou the penultimate and third feather of the right side and on the penulti- 

 mate feather of the left side. 

 m. ^ . Vate, New Hebrides (L. C. Layard). — Only a slight indication of a whitish spot ou the third 

 feather of the left side. 



As its English name implies, tlie present species is a bird of the Pacific Islands. It was 

 first recorded from the Society group, is widely distributed in the Fiji Archipelago, the 

 Tonga group, and certainly occurs in the New Hebrides, in the Solomon Archipelago, 

 and in New Britain. From all of these localities Ave have examined specimens ; but it 

 is quite probable that in the eastern limit of the bird's range it meets with its ally 

 H.javanica, an undoubted specimen of which species we have examined from Duke of 

 York Island. That the specific characters which separate the two species are not of the 

 most constant character will be seen by our notes on the variation which occurs in tln^ 

 present bird. 



The occurrence of the species in the Sandwich Islands, as recorded by Cassin, wh'.) 

 notes a specimen received from the Eivoli collection, requires confirmation, and the New 

 Caledonian record is not satisfactory. Mr. E. L. Layard and his son saw a bird in 

 the latter island on the 26th of November, 1879, which they believe to have been a 

 Pacific Swallow, but they were unable to procure it. 



The present species was first discovered in the "mountainous parts" of Otaheite, or 

 Tahiti, in the Society Islands, during Captain Cook's Voyage, and the specimen described 

 by Latham was said by him to be in the collection of Sir Joseph Banks. It was ])r(i- 

 bably the actual specimen figured by Forster in his 'Drawings,' and called liy liiiu 

 H. pijrrholcenia in the ' Descriptiones Auimalium.' 



Mr. J. J. Lister has recently met with the species in the Tonga group at Nomuka-iki. 

 In the Fiji Archipelago the following islands are given as the abode of tlie species by 

 Mr. E. L. Layard: — Ovalau, "Wakaia, Mokani, Taviuni, Loma-Lonia, ]\[ango. Vitu Levii, 

 and Kandavu. It was also obtained on Moala Island by Dr. Ivayner during tiie voyage 

 of n.M.S. 'Herald.' The 'Challenger' E.vpedition likewise obtained spccinu-us at Matuka 

 and Kandavu. 



Writing from the Fiji Islands, Mr. I]. L. Layard says :— 



" This Swallow is very local, but, I tliiiik, widely spread tlu'ougliout the inlands. It 

 is said to nest in rocks ; and I feel eonlideut that a pair nested this year in the cracks 

 and crannies of 'Brewer's Hock,' as they were visible almost every evening during in\ 

 residence in my present liouse, fiitting over the little puint u\ land im tlie other side ol' 



