356 
Messrs. Layard on the 
M. Jouan (1863) abojit 40 species, of which 5 do not seem 
to be included in MM. Verreaux and Des Murs's list. 
If any of our readers can tell us where we can find infor¬ 
mation on New-Caledonian birds, other than that we have 
mentioned, we shall be most thankful. 
Our brethren of f The Ibis/ will sympathize with us when 
we tell them of the horror that fell like a thick darkness on 
our minds when, in conversation with the gentlemen who 
came off to H.M.S V f Barracouta' to welcome us on our 
arrival, we were told that no shooting was allowed on any 
pretext, as the birds were wanted to kill the locusts! 
Visions of dull despair, if not of actual suicide, floated over 
us! With ample spare time to work to be condemned to 
idleness ! And what other amusements had we ? Oh ! 
there are billiard-tables at the restaurants and hotels! 
These offered no attractions to either of us. What was to be 
done ? A day or two after our landing, a kind lady friend 
offered to drive us out to a pretty spot called Ansevata, 
where she was going to make a visit. We had driven there 
the day of our landing, and had noted with hungry eyes some 
lovely Rhipidura , yellow-billed Pachycephalia , an Aplonis, a 
Hawk, and a Gull or two, and various small “ unknowns.” 
The father looked at the son; the son divining the thought 
in his parent's brain pronounced the magic name cc Long 
Tom.” Parent, in his blandest and most insinuating tones :— 
“ My dear Madam ! would you object to our bringing a tiny 
little collecting-gun with us ? it makes no noise hardly, and, as 
it is a breechloader, will not be carried loaded in the carriage! ” 
Son, persuasively:—“We can pop it in the hood behind 
there, and not a soul can see it.” Lady, graciously 7 “ Oh 
yes, I don't mind a gun; and you'll get me a bird for my hat.” 
Chorus of parent and son :—“ Oh yes, the loveliest we can 
find ! In a few minutes the faithful “ Long Tom ” is un¬ 
shipped from his stock, rolled up in a bag, and stowed away 
in the hood, a dozen cartridges dropt into our pockets, and 
we are off. We felt as gloriously happy as two school-boys 
out of bounds, and thoroughly enjoyed our poaching expedi¬ 
tion ! Our fair friend dropped us by a nice bit of bush, and 
