OCR Text |
Show 1880.] DR. O. FINSCH ON THE BIRDS OF RUK. 575 notice of this collection -the more so as Mr. Kubary has kindly furnished me with a list of all the species observed or obtained by him ; so that the following list will contain a full enumeration of the birds of Ruk. Of the total number of 29 species, only two are peculiar to the islands (Drymophila rugensis and Mgiagra oceanica). The species marked in the subjoined list with an asterisk I did not inspect myself, but insert on the authority of Mr. J. Kubary. 1. COLLOCALIA VANICORENSIS (Quoy & Gaim.). Agrees in every respect with specimens from the Palaos and Kushai. 2. MYZOMELA RUBRATRA (Less.). Agrees with Ponape specimens. 3. CALAMOHERPE SYRINX, Kittl. Agrees with Ponape specimens. 4. ZOSTEROPS SEMPERI, Hartl. Exactly like specimens from Ponape. 5. METABOLUS RUGENSIS. Colluricincla rugensis, Jacq. et Puch. Voy. Pole Sud, iii. p. 62 ; Atlas, t. 13. Metabolus rugensis, Bp. C. R. xxxviii. p. 650 (1854). Native name " Uua." The adult males of this species in full dress (in July) are of a silky white, with the front, lores, lower part of cheeks, chin, and throat of a dark shining black. In August the same birds are of a uniform dull sooty black. Young males and females (in July and August) are above bright cinnamon-colour, darkest on the wings and tail; below of a light pale rusty colour, passing into whitish in the female, and of a nearly isabelline-white in the male. From this dress the latter change into that of the old male, as one specimen before me already shows the development of the black face. Young females change from the. cinnamon into the black garb. Mr. Kubary also found nests and eggs of this species, of which I have examined specimens. The nest is of a distinctly cup-shaped form, about l| inch deep by nearly 3 inches in diameter ; the walls are thick, and consist entirely of fine halms of grass and fibres. The nests are placed in forked branches of trees, and contain one or two eggs. The latter are cream-coloured, speckled all over with rufous, which at the large end are confluent, and cover this part all oyer with rufous speckles. Some eggs have more of a pale reddish ground-colour. 6. MYIAGRA OCEANICA, Jacq. et Puch. Voy. Pole Sud, Zooi. hi. p. 77 ; Atlas, pl. 12 bis, f. 1 & 2. The nest and eggs were obtained by Mr. Kubary. The former |