610 Capt. A. M. Farquliar— Ornitltological 
of the charming little Grass-Finch, Erythrura cyaneifrons, 
which was feeding in flocks on the seeds of a tall grass 
growing in a coffee-plantation. I afterwards shot this bird 
at Dip Point, Ambrym. 
After an absence of three weeks from the islands, I 
returned on the 24th of July to Dillon Bay, Eromanga, 
where I got three specimens of Diaphoropterus n&vius, a 
black-and-white bird called by the natives “ Oovao," but 
could hear nothing of “ Turdus albifrons although I made 
many enquiries. 
While there I went for a picnic with the missionary, 
Mr. Robertson, and his charming daughters. We lunched 
in a beautiful spot close to a stream. A stone's throw 
away, on the other side, Mr. Robertson pointed out a 
large rock, on which, after the murder of his predecessor, 
Mr. Gordon, the natives had placed the body, making a 
small chip on the rock at his head and feet, as a reminder of 
his size, he being a very tall man. His wife was clubbed at 
the same time while in her garden at the top of the cliff 
opposite, along the face of which 1 noticed a pair of Owls 
flying about. These did not come within shot, so I could not 
determine them for certain, hut fancy they were Stria: lulu, 
as I shot an Owl of this species later on in Espiritu Santo. 
The second week of September found me at Hog Harbour, 
Espiritu Santo, where I remained some days surveying; it 
proved the best collecting-ground that I visited. Here there 
are no traders, and a missionary-station has but lately been 
established. The neighbouring tribes are generally at war 
one with another, and the people are very wild. I noticed 
that they wore bunches of feathers in their hair, almost 
their only clothing ; these bunches were artistically softened 
in colour by being smoked. I had hoped to get specimens of 
the Megapode here, but though I offered large quantities of 
tobacco, the natives failed to trap one, and the birds, which 
inhabit the thickest bush, are very difficult to shoot, as they 
run on hearing the slightest noise. I obtained, however, about 
six of their eggs, quite fresh, and saw their laying-places. 
The eggs are deposited in the damp decaying wood of one of 
the fallen giants of the forest, the heat set up by fermentation 
