5 



NECROPSAR GUNTHER & NEWTON. 



HE authors state that this genus was very closely allied to Fregilupus, 



and, besides some minor differences, give as the principal difference 

 the shorter and less curved bill. 



NECROPSAR RODERICANUS GUNTH. & NEWT. 



Necropsar rodericanus Giinther & Newton, Phil. Trans, vol. 168, p. 427, pi. XLII, figs. A-G 



HE original description given by the anonymous author of the ''Relation 



1 de l'lle Rodrigue " is as follows: — "These birds are a little larger 

 than a blackbird, and have white plumage, part of the wings and the 

 tail black, the beak and the legs yellow, and make a wonderful warbling." 

 Our author also says they inhabited the Islet au Mat, and fed on seabirds' 

 eggs and dead turtle. 



The bird evidently became extinct on Rodriguez before 1730, and 

 lingered a little longer on the outlying islets. Only known from bones, 

 mostly collected by the Rev. H. H. Slater, and the above description. 

 Habitat : Rodriguez and neighbouring islets. 

 There is one tibia in the Tring Museum. 



The figure is coloured according to the description, while the shape 

 of the bird is evident from its bones and relation. 



(Plate 2, Fig. 2.) 



(1879). 



