126 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



tail rather short; plumage of the head having a scale-like appearance. 

 Entire upper parts sepia-brown, darker and with a purplish metallic 

 lustre on the head, greater wing-coverts, and primaries; secondaries 

 narrowly edged with white on their external webs; under wing- 

 coverts white. Under parts pale cinereous, with a tinge of yellowish; 

 many feathers, especially on the breast, having each a longitudinal 

 central line of white. Under tail-coverts with paler margins. Iris 

 orange; bill and feet dusky reddish. Sexes alike. 



Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), al)Out seven and three-fourths 

 inches; wing, four and three-eighths inches; tail two and three-eighths 

 inches. 



Hab. — Tonga and Feejee Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Wash- 

 ington City. 



The specimens of this bird, in the collection of the Expedition, have 

 not to us the appearance of being mature. They do not correspond, 

 in all respects, with Mr. Gould's description above cited, but suiliciently 

 to leave no doubt as to their identity with his species. 



Mr. Peale remarks: "This bird is not uncommon at the Tonga and 

 Feejee Islands; its habits are much like those of a thrush; it is quite 

 musical, singing sweetly in the bread-fruit trees, and other places in 

 the vicinity of cultivated grounds. 



" The females have less metallic lustre on the feathers of the head 

 and neck, but otherwise cannot be distinguished from the males." 



The figure in our Atlas is of the natural size, and represents a spe- 

 cimen labelled as a male. 



2. Aplonis brevirostris [Peale). 



Lamprotornis brevirostris, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. Ill (1848). 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate VII, fig. 2. Adult ? 

 A. marginatam refert sed minor, rostroqiie hrevidre. 



Supra fasca nitore purpurea. Suhtas cinerea Uneiis longitudinalibus 

 albis, iridihus aurardiis, rostro et pedibus saturate corneis. Long. tot. 

 61 polUcis. 



