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Show 464 MR. E. L. LAYARD ON SOUTH-PACIFIC BIRDS. [June 5, and defensive spicula are common to several species of Geodia, Farrea, and to Alcyoncellum as well as to this sponge. If the term hexactinellid, as used by some writers, be adopted as designating the series of sponges which contain the various forms of rectangulate sexradiate spicula, it will embrace a number of genera and species widely differing in the important distinctive characters of their skeletons, upon which the most important characters of their classification must ultimately be founded.. June 8th, 1876. 2. Remarks on the exact Localities of some Birds from the Islands of the South Pacific. By E. L. L A Y A R D , F.Z.S. [Received May 14, 1877.] In speaking of " the geographical distribution of the Fruit-pigeons in the numerous islands of the Pacific" (P. Z. S. 1874, p. 94), Dr. Finsch has, I think, committed an error which it will be as well to point out. I have only just obtained m y back numbers of the ' Proceedings,' or would have alluded to the matter at an earlier date. Late though it is, I know Dr. Finsch will thank me for assisting him with local knowledge to propagate the truth, an end at which I am sure we both aim. Dr. Finsch says, "Ptilinopus fasciatus, Peale, is found on the Feejees, Navigators', and the small island of Uea of the Wallis group." I think, as regards the Navigators' Islands, he is certainly mistaken. The Ptilinopus found there is certainly distinct, whatever it is. I have not original descriptions to which to refer ; but my idea is (taken from Finsch and Hartlaub's own work, and from the plate in the Mus. Godeffroy) that it is P. apicalis, Bp. In one of my late communications to this Society (see P. Z.S. 1876, p. 495) I have pointed out the differences, which are constant. The bird which I call P. apicalis is never found on Fiji, nor is the Fijian bird which I call P. fasciatus ever found in the Navigators'. Tonga has its own species, which I call P. porphyraceus; and it, again, is found, or a very near approach to it, on Fotuna Island. P. fasciatus is found on Viti Levu, Mang-o, and Wakaia Islands. I must now point out another error into which my friend Dr. Finsch has fallen. He says, " the beautiful Chryscena victor, Gould, is confined to Taviumi1, one of the smallest islands of the Feejee group." So far from Taviuni being one of the "smallest," it is actually one of the four largest islands of the group ; and C. victor is not "confined" to it, but distributed all over the large island of Vanua Levu, and the islands of Rambi, Lanthala, and Kamea. I may add, however, to Dr. Finsch's remarks, that m y new Chryscena (C. viridis) is, so far as yet known, confined to the island of Kandavu. I spell this as Dr. Finsch has done. Unlucky island! how naturalists have misnamed it! Both in the ' Proceedings' and in ' The Ibis' it has been spelt half a dozen different ways; but the correct way is TAVIUNI.-E. L. L. |