268 Messrs. E. L. and E. L. C. Layard on Birds 
1. CiRcus_, sp.? 
A Harrier, resembling the Fijian species [Circus approxu 
mans), was seen questing over tbe grassy uplands and bill- 
sides of Vate and Api, but was too wary to offer tbe cbance 
of a shot.—L. L. 
2. Urospizias, sp. ? 
A few small Hawks were also seen on Vate and Api, but 
very wild and scarce.—L. L. 
[Probably Urospizias torquata, Temm., wbicb I bave re¬ 
ceived from Aneiteum.—H. B. T.] 
3. Strix delicatula, Gould. 
An Owl, undoubtedly of tbis widely spread species, flew 
over our beads one evening as we were concluding a game of 
cricket in tbe island of Vate.—L. L. 
We bave an idol, taken at Api, in tbe bead of wbicb is a 
tuft of feathers pulled from tbe wing of tbis white Owl.— 
E.L.L. 
4. Halcyon sancta, Vig. & Horsf. ? 
Tbis was observed, or procured, in all the places visited. 
It was not so common as in New Caledonia, but equally dis¬ 
tributed in tbe forest, grass-land, and sea-sbore, perhaps most 
in tbe forest. Bill black, with basal half of lower mandible 
white; legs ashy ; iris dark brown.—L. L. 
I cannot separate this Kingfisher from the New-Caledonian 
bird, though it is generally, I should say, larger, and has a 
more robust bill; but these characters differ in birds procured 
from tbe same localities, and vary with sex and age.—E. L. L. 
[Mr. Layard has received a Kingfisher from Aneiteum, 
wbicb be takes to be H. juli(B, but which is evidently of tbis 
species. No doubt H.juliiB is little more than a local repre¬ 
sentative of H. sacra, to which it is more closely allied than 
to H. sancta. It is less brightly coloured than tbe former, 
but has not nearly so green a hue as H. sancta. But the 
differentiating character is the dark chestnut necklet from 
the upper mandible encircling the occiput. This is equally 
remarkable in all stages of plumage. In all this group of 
