148 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



and white, without regularity, although they may be paired and rais- 

 ing their broods. Plence, we infer that they are subject to almost the 

 same variations which are so remarkable in the nightingale of those 

 islands [Thryothoras Otatare), and which we have never before ob- 

 served birds to be subject to in their natural state, but is common in 

 those that have been domesticated." 



When writing the last lines of this paragraph, our author does not 

 appear to have borne in mind the common ruff of Europe, Machetes 

 ])iignax, the most remarkable instance of variableness in a species, 

 perhaps, known to ornithologists. Of that bird, it is very unusual to 

 find two adult males alike, and not only that, but specimens are usu- 

 ally of entirely difierent colors in some parts of their plumage. 



3. Genus MYIAGRA, V!g. and Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XV, p. 250 (1825). 



1. MyiagrA vanikorensis [Quoy and Gaimard). 



Platyrliynclios vanikorensis, QuoY and Gaimard, Voy. Astrolabe, Zoologie, I, p. 183 

 (1830). 



Voy. Astrolabe, Ois. Plate V, fig. 1. 



Form. — Bill very wide, depressed ; ridge of the upper mandible dis- 

 tinct ; apertures of the nostrils large and conspicuous ; gape with 

 numerous pairs of short rigid bristles. Wings rather long, first 

 primary rudimentary, third longest ; tail moderate ; tarsi and toes 

 slender. 



Dimensions. — Total length, about five and a half inches; wing, 

 three inches ; tail, two and a half inches. 



Colors. — Male. Entire head and breast black, with a green lustre ; 

 upper parts of the body, dark ashy-brown ; under parts, from the 

 breast, reddish fulvous, darker on the lower part of the breast, and 

 palest on the ventral region and under coverts of the tail. Quills 

 brown ; secondaries narrowly edged with pale cinereous ; tail brown, 

 paler beneath. Bill and tarsi dark. Inferior coverts of the wing 

 white, barred and spotted with black. " The back of the female is 



