25 
I shall be careful to give an illustration of every endemic species. Birds that are common to other 
countries may or may not be figured, according to the circumstances of each particular case. 
Aplonis zealandicus. — Two examples (in Paris) : no sex stated ; but one is slightly larger than the other, with 
the colours of the plumage a little brighter, and is presumably the male. 
<? a( l- General plumage rufous-grey, darker on the upper parts and deepening to rufous-brown on the lower 
part of back, rump, and upper tail-coverts ; from the anterior edge of the eye a dull black streak extending 
to the nostrils ; the primaries bright rufous on their outer webs only, being blackish brown on their inner 
webs ; large wing-coverts and bastard quills bright rufous ; tail-feathers dark rufous-brown, with a rich 
vinous tinge on their outer edges ; underparts lighter, the feathers of the breast and abdomen having 
obscure, narrow, greyish margins ; flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts rufous-brown, mixed with tawny 
yellow, the feathers becoming lighter at the tips. Bill blackish brown, with a reddish tinge on the under 
mandible ; legs and feet pale brown ; claws yellowish brown. Total length 7' 5 inches ; wing, from flexure, 
4; tail 2 - 5 ; bill, along the ridge '75, along the edge of lower mandible '75; tarsus - 8; middle toe and 
claw - 9. 
? ad. Similar to the male, but with duller plumage, and of somewhat smaller size. 
Obs. I am satisfied that A. rufipennis, Layaixl, from Vate Island, New Hebrides, described in ‘ The Ibis/ 1881, 
p. 542, is this bird, and not Calornis cantoroides as suggested by Canon Tristram. 
Allied Species. Aplonis tabuensis, Gmel. ( = A. vitiemis, Layard, = marginatus, Gould, = marginalis, Harth, = 
marginata, Cass ., = cassinii, Peale).— More strongly built, and being a lighter-coloured species; only a rufous tinge 
on the plumage of the upper parts, with a purplish sheen on the head and neck ; an obscure facial streak ; the 
pectoral feathers with pale shaft-lines, giving a slightly streaky character to the breast. In young birds the sheen 
is absent and the pectoral streaks are more conspicuous. Irides red. — Hab. Tonga group, Savage Island, Friendly 
Islands, and Fiji. There is a slight difference observable in specimens from Tonga and Fiji, but nothing of any 
specific value. 
Aplonis f us cus, Gould. — I do not think this form is separable from A. tabuensis. It is slightly browner on the 
upper parts than specimens from Tonga, hut cannot be distinguished from some Fiji examples of the latter species. 
Hab. Norfolk Island and Australia. 
Aplonis brevirostris, Peale. — This species also seems to me scarcely separable from A. tabuensis, the only dif- 
feiences being i n its somewhat smaller size, the darker crown, and the less streaky appearance on the underparts. 
In all essential respects the birds are alike. In the ‘ Hand-list of Birds ’ (vol. ii. p. 26) Mr. G. R. Gray makes 
Aplonis australis, Gould, a synonym of this species, but I have not seen this type. — Hab. Samoa. 
Aplonis nigroviridis, hess.( = A.pacificus, Forst ,?,=striatus, Gmel., = obscurus, D ubus, = viridigriseus, G. R.Gr.). 
—Slaty grey, with a darker head and neck, and a very perceptible gloss on the plumage, especially on the upper 
surface ; the facial streak broader than in A. zealandicus. The young of this species has the entire plumage slaty 
g ie y, paler and mixed with light brown on the underparts, some specks of white on the cheeks, and the small 
wing-coverts narrowly margined with whitish grey ; but even in the young state the facial streak is quite con- 
spicuous, having the appearance of a dull inky stain. — Hab. New Caledonia and Lord Howe’s Island. 
Aplonis caledonicus, Bp. — Entire plumage black and glossy, with green reflections in certain lights and purplish 
on the head and throat. The sexes are alike, except that the female has less gloss on the plumage. Prince Bona- 
parte’s type, marked by his own hand, is in the Museum at Paris. The British Museum contains a good number 
of specimens, showing very little variation, and all from New Caledonia. A specimen marked Aplonis mavornata, 
but without any reference, differs from A. caledonicus in having the entire plumage dingy brown, without any gloss, 
the feathers of the underparts narrowly margined with grey. This may prove to be the young of A. caledonicus , 
but no locality is given. 
Aplonis alronitens, G. R. Gray. — This seems to be a good species, with a much more robust bill than any of the 
preceding, and having the entire plumage brownish black, with little or no gloss on the surface. The single 
specimen in the British Museum was obtained by Sir George Grey from the Loyalty Islands. 
E 
