

498 Mr. B. L. Layard on a new Species of Myiolestes. 
consequently the two mandibles are stouter than those of M. 
pulcher, especially the under one. 
The bill is in shape more like that of Myiobius than of any 
other genus with which I have compared it, and for the pre- 
sent I incline to place it there. In this view I only follow 
Mr. G. R. Gray, who -puts Platyrhynchus murinus, Spix, in 
Myjiobius, and as identical with M. incanescens, Wied. 
XLVIII.—Description of a new Species of Myiolestes from 
Fiji. By E. L. Layarp, C.M.G., F.Z.S., &c., H.B.M. Con- 
sul at Naumea, New Caledonia. 
Tux discovery of another new species of Myiolestes in Fiji 
does not surprise me, as I feel confident. that when the 
islands to the southward and eastward are examined, addi- 
tional novelties will reward the explorer’s trouble. I hope 
Mr. Kleinschmidt, collector for Messrs. Godeffroy, will be 
able to visit them; I have urgently advised him to do so. 
The present new species was discovered on Kandavu (the 
largest of the southern islands) along with several other 
novelties, by a collector whom I counselled to proceed thither, 
as the locality was likely to produce new things. It may- be 
at once distinguished from all other species of the genus by 
its large size, I therefore propose to call it 
Myio.estEs MAxiMA, Layard. 
&. General colour throughout warm brown, clearer and 
paler below, lightest on the upper throat and vent; flanks 
slightly rufous; no grey tinge about the lower parts, as in 
M. vitiensis, Hartl., nor is there the slightest trace of the 
whitish tips to the tail-feathers, which are very indistinctly 
edged and tipped with rufous ; inner and outer webs of wing- 
primaries the same, but more distinct; bill very large and 
strongly hooked, black, with the edges of both mandibles 
and the tip whitish horn-colour; legs bluish. Length 8", 
wing 4", tail 3! 6", bill 1” 2” (broad 5!), tarsus 1” 1!". Iris 
brown. Food insects. 
Habits same as those of the other known species. 


