BIRD NAMES OF UNGEETAIN ORIGIN. 273 



negrette I find no explanation whatsoever. Negrette occurs in a 

 dictionary of the Dutch, French, and Latin languages, entitled 

 Kilianus ductus.' I suspect that the correct reading is une 

 aigrette ; if so, the pijlstaart is an Egret, and may have been 

 employed by Tasman to denote the Reef Heron. Pijlstaart is 

 also the name of the members of a family of fishes— the Sting- 

 Rays (Trygonidce) — and is, I think, more likely to have been 

 employed by Tasman in this than in any other signification. 



Hobart, Tasmania. 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. X., July, 1906, 



