| OCR Text |
Show 440 MR. E. L. LAYARD ON FIJIAN BIRDS. [Julie 1, CHARADRIUS FULVUS, Gmel. I first met with the Golden Plover on the Lower Rewa, on a grass flat belonging to Mr. Page ; here a flock of several hundred afforded some warm work to our guns, and an addition to our bill of fare. I subsequently found them all the way up the river, and on every other river we visited on Viti Levu; also on the coast at Loma Loma, Taviuni, and Vanua Levu. They are fond of sitting on the top of the stakes of the fish-kraals, waiting for the receding tide; off these I have often shot them. I saw them in full adult plumage, with black breasts, at Suva at the end of August. STREPSILAS INTERPRES (Linn.); F. & H. op. cit. p. 197- I saw one shot at Navua, on Viti Levu. ARDEA JAVANICA, Horsf.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 207. Not common. I shot it in young plumage at Kandavu in August. Breeds in the mangroves in October ; the eggs are pale blue-green, axis 1"9"', diam. 1" 2"'. ARDEA SACRA, Gmel.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 201. Common all over the country among the mangroves. DENDROCYGNA VAGANS, Eyton; F. & H. op. cit. p. 211. The " Mountain-" or " Red " Duck of settlers is very local, and said by the planters at Naudi (on Viti Levu), where we saw it in some abundance, to come down from the mountains during the rainy season, December till March. I heard of it also as appearing from the mountains about the head-waters of the Waimanu. ANAS SUPERCILIOSA, Gmel.; F. & H. op. cit. 213. The " Black Duck," Ngaloa of the natives, is common on all oar rivers, marshes, and even sea-board. According to its habitat, so are its edible properties ; but it is at all times a welcome addition to the traveller's bill of fare. STERNA BERGII, Licht.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 216. This Tern is found on our coasts all the year round, but is nowhere common. As the coast-line is bare of waders, so are our seas bare of sea-fowl. STERNA LONGIPENNIS, Nordm.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 220. Non vidi. STERNA MELANAUCHEN, Temm.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 224. I think I saw this Tern at Navua, on the eastern coast of Viti Levu. STERNA PANAYA, Gm.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 228. Seen in small flocks out at sea in company with the next species. It rarely approaches the land; and only one specimen has been |
