252 
Messrs. E. L. and E. L. C. Layard on 
Yahoue/'’ where they were shot by the superintendent; and two 
more have been seen by ns, hovering over our house in pursuit 
of our broods of young chickens. Indeed, we skinned our second 
specimen with the gun by our side at the open window, fully 
expecting that the marauder would give us the chance of a 
shot! The first specimen weighed 2 lb, and the girth round 
the middle of the thigh was 3^ inches. It had a lizard in its 
gullet. This is the first instance in which this species has 
been recorded from New Caledonia : it is a fine addition to 
its avifauna. 
6. Circus wolfi, Gurney, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 823. 
[The diflPerences between the New-Caledonian species and 
Circus maillardiy from Joanna and Eeunion, with which M. 
Marie identifies it, are pointed out by Mr. Gurney in his 
description of C. wolfi. It has not come under the notice of 
Mr. Layard.—H. B. T.] 
7. Strix castanops, Gould. 
We have not met with this species; but in the collection, 
though not from Lifu, is a bird that bears evidence on its label 
as having been killed somewhere in New Caledonia, which 
accords in description and in all its measurements with Strix 
nov<B-hollandi(s, Stephens, as given by Gould Handb. Birds 
of Austr.^ i. p. 65); and as such we, without doubt, consider it. 
This is another addition to the list. 
10. CoLLOCALIA LEUCOPYGIA, Wall. 
[Identified as C. linchij Horsf., by M. Marie, but, I believe, 
erroneously.—H. B. T.] 
Common throughout the islands, and, we think, at least 
partially, migratory. It was very common about Noumea 
in the cold weather, up to the end of September or be¬ 
ginning of October; since then it has disappeared. E. L. L. 
lately (9th November) visited Honailou, about halfway up 
the east coast. Here the species was found breeding in some 
caverns in limestone rocks. The nests were composed of 
fine rootlets, strands of Casuarina, dry grass, and feathers, 
cemented together into a hard compact mass, and firmly 
fastened to the sloping rock by the saliva of the birds. 
