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to E. paciEcus, whereas the larger number are more richly coloured and are in every respect similar 
to others from Celebes, from the island of Sanghir, and from the Philippines with which I have 
compared them, and it therefore appears probable that the two species meet in Halmahera.” To 
this I may add that von Pelzeln states that he examined a specimen from Java, received from 
Pemminck, which entirely agreed with the Australian examples ; but the only specimen from Java 
w’hich I have examined is certainly referable to Earystomus orientalis and not to the present species. 
I have several specimens of this Poller before me from Ceram, one from Norfolk Island, one from 
Plores, and one in the collection of Canon PTistram from Lombock is intermediate between 
E. OTientalis and E. yacificus^ but resembles the latter species much more closely than it does the 
former. Canon Tristram records the present species from the Louisiade and d’Entrecasteaux Islands 
off New Guinea; but in the Solomon Islands, New Britain, and New Ireland it is replaced by 
Eiirystomiis salomonensis and E. crassirostris. As above stated, Salvador! thinks it probable that 
it inhabits the island of Waigiou, but the only Poller I have seen from there is referable to 
Eurystomus crassirostris. 
I have examined many examples of the present species of Poller from New Guinea and also 
from Australia, where, according to Mr. Gould, it “ would appear to be a very local species, for I have 
never seen it from any other part of the country than New South Wales; but the late Mr. Elsey 
informed me that he found it very common in the Victoria basin, and that it became very numerous 
about the head of the Lynd.” According to Mr. Pamsay it is apparently plentiful in certain seasons 
at Port Denison, and he received sterna of specimens obtained there in October and December. He 
also adds that it is plentiful about the township of Cardwell and elsewhere. It has also been 
recorded from New Zealand by Mr. Cheeseman, who states [1. c.) that a specimen was shot at Piku, 
eight miles north of the Manukau Heads, this being the first record of its occurrence in New 
Zealand. 
The best account I can find of its habits is that given by Mr. Gould, who, in his ‘ Birds of 
Australia,’ writes as follows:—“ It arrives early in the spring, and after having brought forth its 
progeny retires northward on the approach of winter. It appeared to be most active about sunrise 
and sunset; in sultry weather it was generally perched upon some dead branch in a state of 
quietude. It is a very bold bird at all times, but particularly so during the breeding-season, when 
it attacks with the utmost fury any intruder that may venture to approach the hole in the tree in 
wPich its eggs are deposited. When intent upon the capture of insects it usually perches upon the 
dead upright branch of a tree growing beside and overhanging water, where it sits very erect, until a 
passing insect attracts its notice, when it suddenly darts ofiT, secures its victim, and returns to the 
same branch ; at other times it may constantly be seen on the wing, mostly in pairs, flying just above 
the tops of the trees, diving and rising again with many rapid turns. During flight the silvery-white 
spot in the centre of each wing shows very distinctly, and hence the name Dollar Bird bestowed upon 
it by the colonists. 
“ It is a very noisy bird, particularly in dull weather, when it often emits its peculiar chattering 
note during flight. It is said to take young Parrots from their holes and kill them, but this I never 
witnessed; the stomachs of the many I dissected contained the remains of Coleoptera only. The 
breeding-season lasts from September to December; and the eggs, which are three and sometimes four 
in number, are deposited in the hole of a tree without any nest; they are of a beautiful pearly white, 
considerably pointed at the smaller end; their medium length is one inch and five lines, and breadth 
one inch and two lines. 
“ The sexes are alike in plumage.” 
