60 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IV, January, 1950 
Fig. 5. Typical taro patch swamp, Omin, Map 
Island. A pair of rails nested here. 
Gallicolumba xanthonura, Ground Dove.* 
— Comparison of specimens from Yap and the 
Marianas revealed little significant difference. 
The only female from Yap was somewhat 
darker above and particularly darker below 
in the throat and breast; specimens from the 
Marianas are more rufous cinnamon in these 
parts of the body. Size seemed to be identical 
in the two series. 
This species is uncommon on the island; 
I saw only 14 (singles, except for a male 
and a female collected together ) in 4 weeks. 
It appeared to be limited to mangrove thick- 
ets in or near water and was not seen any- 
where in the interior of Yap Island. 
Rhipidura rufifrons versicolor, Rufous- 
fronted Fantail.* — Mayr (in litt.) wrote as 
follows: 
The Yap race which I had not previously 
seen is more distinct from the races of the 
Marianas Islands than I had expected. The 
extensive, buffy, ochraceous wash of belly and 
flanks is missing. The well-defined, clear, 
white upper throat is another striking differ- 
ence as are the gray-brown flanks. The upper- 
parts are darker and more rufous with the 
contrast between rump and back much less 
pronounced. Actually, the Yap bird is, in 
the coloration of its underparts, much more 
similar to the Solomon Islands races and in 
particular to brunnea from Malaita Island. It 
differs from that race by the more extensive 
white tips on the tail feathers and broader 
white edges on the feathers of the breast and 
middle of the abdomen. The rufous zone on 
the lower back is more reduced. There is a 
more distinct grayish wash in the black por- 
tions of the tail feathers. The similarity is 
so striking that I wouldn’t be surprised if Yap 
had actually been colonized from Malaita. 
Although found on all the islands, they are 
most abundant on Tomil. The edges of low 
undergrowth in lowland jungles and the 
edges of mangrove swamps seemed to be fav- 
orite habitats, but a few were seen far back 
in the jungle. Without exception, the birds 
were found in twos or in family groups; three 
broods of nearly fledged young (three in each 
brood) were following pairs on August 11. 
They are constantly on the move and are 
wary, but they, at this season at least, came 
in toward squeaking noises. They responded 
best to the sound of two pieces of seasoned 
wood being knocked together, as when ashes 
from a pipe were knocked out by hitting it 
against a gunstock. As one moved along a 
trail these birds frequently flew out ahead, 
displaying vigorously. They became most 
active just after sundown and before total 
darkness. 
Monarcha godeffroyi, Monarch Fly- 
catcher.* — Specimens collected showed much 
individual variation in extent of the black, 
brown, and white coloration. Two birds in 
brown coloration, similar to M. takatsukae 
from Tinian, were taken. Both were adult 
females, on the basis of degree of ossification 
of the skull and development of the ovaries; 
one was feeding nearly grown young. Imma- 
ture s collected were dirty-black or brownish- 
black with dirty-white markings. Males were 
white-backed with white ventra, and the fe- 
males had a white ring of varying extent 
about the neck. 
On all islands of Yap, the species was 
abundant along the trails in heavy jungle. 
In this habitat the species was usually found 
20 or more feet up in the vegetation, not in 
