NASITERNA. 155 



Nasiterna pusio. — The Plate, by Mr. Keulemans, was taken by permission 

 from the specimen (drawn a second time) in the British Museum, first figured 

 by Mr. J. Wolf (P. Z. S. 1865, p. 620, pi. 35). This is the only one known, 

 except that preserved in spirits and now in the Royal Zoological Museum in 

 Berlin. 



All the Plates of these Nasiterna are of life-size. It appears almost a 

 pity to produce a second Plate of the same bird ; but I in vain tried to hunt 

 up another example to complete the genus. This specimen is not sexed ; and 

 as the Solomon Islands appear to be a rather extensive group, its habitat is 

 defined by Dr. Finsch's statement of the exact island — New Georgia. 



Dr. Sclater remarks, in the above-named article : — " Hitherto this very 

 peculiar genus of Psittacidas was supposed to be restricted to New Guinea 

 and the Papuan Islands, affording an additional proof, if any such were 

 needed, that the Salomon Islands belong strictly to the Austro-Malayan as 

 distinguishable from the Pacific subdivision of the Australian region. 



" Ohs. Major quam N. pygmeea, et colore pilei et faciei, necnon forma et 

 colore caudse, facile distinguenda." 



As regards the tail common to all the three species, Mr. Wallace says 

 (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 281), " Its spined tail would indicate some peculiar habits 

 of which we have no account." Putting on one side the Picidae, one naturally 

 thinks of the American genus Chatura and the Australian species Acanthylis 

 caudacuta. This genus, consisting, according to Dr. Sclater (P. Z. S. 1863, 

 pp. 98-102), of eight species, presents salient examples of the same thing. 



Speaking of CJicetura pelasgia, Teram., the American Chimney-Swallow 

 or Swift, Audubon says (' Birds of America,' vol. i. p. 164, edit. 1840) : — 

 " It has abandoned its former abodes in hollow trees, and taken possession 

 of the chimneys. In Lower Kentucky &c. many resorted to excavated 

 branches and trunks for the purpose of breeding — sycamores of gigantic 

 growth, and having a mere shell of bark and wood to support them. They 

 never alight on trees or on the ground. In the cities these birds make choice 



