146 Mr. E. L. Layard on some little-known 
Long. 
Al. 
Caud. 
Tars. 
Eost. 
in. lin. 
in. lin. 
in. lin. 
lin. 
lin. 
M. vitiensis . .. 
... 6 6 
3 1 
2 8 
8f 
n 
M. buensis ... 
... 6 6 
3 3 
3 4 
11 
13 
M. fortunce . .. 
... 6 6 
3 1 
3 3 
11 
9 
M. macrorhynchus 7 6 
3 4 
3 9 
13 
14 
As will be seen, the bills of M. buensis and M. macro - 
rhynchus much exceed the others in length, and are nearly 
twice as thick. 
Pachycephala torquata, sp. nov. 
This, another new species, is noi: uncommon in the forests 
of Taviuni-—perhaps on account of its loud and varied voice 
betraying it oftener than that of other birds. If you listen 
attentively, you will probably hear a kind of running bass 
accompaniment of “ purr purr.” This comes from its mate, 
a little brown bird. The family are like the female, the very 
young ones being redder. As the young males grow up, the 
glorious yellow livery in which the adult rejoices is put on 
in patches, generally beginning with a yellow moustache on 
each side of the mouth. 
And now for a further inquiry into species or varieties. 
What are the four birds we have here?—1. Pachycephala 
graffii , Hartl.; 2. P. vitiensis , Gray; 3. P. icteroides , Peale; 
4. P. torquata, Layard. Are they species or varieties ? 
As far as I know, my P. torquata is confined exclusively 
to Taviuni. The yellow of the underparts is extremely rich, 
and crossed by a broad black collar; the voice differs from 
all the others. P. vitiensis is much paler, and the throat paler 
still (Finsch and Hartlaub say “ whitebut I have not seen 
it so), and separated from the other yellow by a narrow black 
collar. It is found in Yiti Levu, not elsewhere that I know of 
yet. P. icteroides has no collar, and is paler than either of 
the two last. I fancy some specimens look as if they were 
assuming collars, a few black spots appearing on the neck. 
It is found in Ovalau. P. graffii has a yellow spot on each 
side of the forehead, beginning at the nostrils, and a yellow 
bar on the rump. Its underparts equal those of P. torquata 
in richness. It is found at Bua (Vanua Levu). 
