Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Fiji. 155 
but is about a third smaller, and the head is entirely covered 
with the brilliant blue feathers. He has named it L. minor. 
Pritotis PRovocAToR, Layard, P.Z. 8. 1873, p. 28. 3 
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"; ext. depth 2" 6!", intern. 1” 61". 
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 18”, diam. 9!" 
It is singular that I have to chronicle two other Fijian 
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 P@cILOPTERA, Hartl. 
On the 9th October, 1875, a male and four eggs of this 
species were brought to me from the Rewa. 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'. 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’ :— 
Bill and feet black ; tip of bill and claws white; eye brown ; 
inside of bill (mouth) deep orange-red. The whole of the 
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