155 
Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Fiji . 
but is about a third smaller, and the head is entirely covered 
with the brilliant blue feathers. He has named it L. minor . 
Ptilotis provocator, Layard, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 28. 
Mr. Pearce obtained at Kandavu in September three nests 
of this species, each containing a single egg. The nest is a 
light structure, composed of fine rootlets, and lined with bents 
of a thin wiry grass, with a base of cotton and feathers. Ext. 
diam. 4", intern. 2” 6 llf ; ext. depth 2 11 6 nr , intern. 6 ;,/ . 
The egg is a pale salmon-colour, spotted throughout with 
dark red, and indistinct, very pale, purple blotches, small, 
and the latter grouped chiefly in the form of a ring at the 
greatest diameter. Axis 13 w , diam. 9" 1 . 
It is singular that I have to chronicle two other Pijian 
birds apparently only laying one egg! Is this the rule or 
the exception ? If the former, it accounts for the paucity of 
individuals one sees in the forest. 
Rallina pceciloptera, Hartl. 
On the 9th October, 1875, a male and four eggs of this 
species were brought to me from the ftewa. The latter are 
of a warm brown cream-colour, marked throughout, but espe¬ 
cially at the thick end, with irregularly shaped and sized 
spots and blotches, of indistinct pale purple and dry blood- 
colour. Axis 2", diam. 1" 6 m . On blowing them they were 
found just beginning to be hard-set. 
The male, judging from two pairs I have in my collection, 
is rather smaller than the female. 
The natives say this bird never takes wing. On the point 
of the spurious winglet there is a small stiff spur, black, with 
a white tip, and about half an inch in length. 
Sterna melanauchen. 
I am induced to give the following description of this 
species, taken from a fresh-killed specimen, as it differs 
considerably from that given by Jerdon in his 'Birds of 
India 9 :— 
Bill and feet black; tip of bill and claws white; eye brown; 
inside of bill (mouth) deep orange-red. The whole of tbie 
m 2 
