OCR Text |
Show 496 MR. E. L. L A Y A R D O N BIRDS [June 6, some even on the low cotton-bushes, the voice a pleasing melancholy rolling coo, like that of its Fijian congener. Many young birds, assuming the magenta head, were obtained; the females are not so brightly coloured as the males, especially on the under tail-coverts ; very young birds have the whole of the underparts "scaly" (maille) with yellow edges to their green feathers; the wing-feathers are also broadly edged and tipped with fine yellow. They show no trace of the V-shaped termination of the breast-feathers, one of the characteristics of the genus ; nor is the apical termination of the first primary so attenuated. 23- COLUMBA VITIENSIS, Quoy. A mutilated specimen brought me by a native appeared to be similar to our Fijian bird ; and Mr. Whitmee informed me that he believed 24. COLUMBA CASTANEICEPS, Peale, to be founded on the young of this species. They are not common. 25. CARPOPHAGA PACIFICA, Gm. Very abundant, and the sexual organs and knob on the bill of the male much developed in December. 26. PHLOGOZNAS STAIRI, Gray. Rare ; only one specimen fell under my notice. Mr. Krause (Messrs. Godeffroy's collector) told me they had periodical migrations, and were sometimes plentiful. This bird is said to nest on the ground. 27. DIDUNCULUS STRIGIROSTRIS, Jard. I did not myself see this bird in its haunts ; but one was shot not far from where I happened to be, and I had the pleasure of skinning it. 1 had a native out in search of these birds for three days; but he failed toobtain any. 28. MEGAPODIUS STAIRI, Gray. Mr. Whitmee and Mr. Krause both assured me no Megapode exists in the Navigators' Islands. Mr. Whitmee affirmed that the bird on which the species was founded was brought from Ninafoo by the Rev. W . Stair, and transmitted to England among some Samoan skins ; hence the mistake. When I recollect that my late old friend Mr. G. R. Gray fathered on me the habitat of Ceylon for Larus hemprichii, because I gave the British Museum specimens shot at Aden on my way from the former place (among a number of Ceylonese birds), I don't wonder at the mistake! 29. RALLUS PECTORALIS, Less. Very abundant, running about wet places like rats, and preferring to trust for safety to their heels rather than their wings. |