278 M. F. Pollen on the Genus Oxynotus. 
ginous. Rectrices dull brown, more or less broadly tipped with 
white. Bill brownish-black ; legs dark lead-colour. 
The differences thus pointed out are more clearly visible in the 
accompanying plates (Plates VII. and VIII.), wherein the birds 
from the two islands are represented at one-half their natural size. 
Their manner of life and their song are also quite different; and 
should ornithologists agree with me in considering the Oxynotus 
of Reunion a species distinct from that of Mauritius, I hope 
they will allow me to designate the former by the name of O. 
newtoni as a proof of my regard for Mr. Edward Newton, who 
is known as a careful student of ornithology; and further, also, 
that they will adopt for the latter the name of 0 . typicus recently 
conferred upon it by Dr. Hartlaub (Journ. fur Ornith. 1865, 
p. 160) *. I must not, however, fail to remind them that my 
friend, Dr. Auguste Vinson of Reunion, was one of the first to 
observe that the Oxynotus of that island was a distinct species, 
as in his manuscript notes he says “Nous rdavons trouve nulle- 
part la description de cet oiseau.” 
It surprised the reviewer of my paper (Ibis, 1865, p, 530) to 
learn that Oxynotus is useful to mankind, as he mentions my 
statement that it inhabits the most impenetrable forests. I can 
assure him that O. newtoni is of very great service as a destroyer 
of the insects which do much harm to the palm-trees (which 
furnish the colonists with the excellent Choux-palmiste) and to 
other trees of value in this island. 
i ^ 
* [Averse as we are to the change of a name by which any species has 
become known, there seems to be in this case a greater amount of legality 
than usual for the alteration proposed. There is no doubt that MM. Quoy 
and Gaimard were mistaken in referring the subject of their figure, which 
“provient de Pile de France” (Voy. Uranie, Zool. pi. 17), to the Rufous- 
bellied Shrike, or “Fiscal” of Latham (Synops. i. p. 163), the Lanius 
ferrugineus of Gmelin (Syst. Nat. I. i. p. 306), a very well-known species 
which inhabits the Cape of Good Hope (Strickland, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist, 
vii. p. 29 ; Sundevail, Crit. Framstalln. Le Vaillant, no. 68) and belongs 
to the genus Malaconotus. But if the specific name ferrugineus, has on 
that account to be discarded, Swainson’s publication (Fauna Bor.-Am. ii. 
p. 483) of that of rufiventer, from the Paris Museum, would seem to give 
the latter priority, and it is a question whether the Mauritian bird will not 
have to stand as Oxynotus rufiventer .— Ed.] 
