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Show 1877.J BIRDS FROM EUA, FRIENDLY GROUP. 771 Of these, examples of 21 have been inspected by me; two (Charadrius fulvus and Limosa uropygialis) I included on Mr. Layard's authority Only one species, the Parrot Platycercus tabuensis, seems to be peculiar to the island. 1. STRIX DELICATULA. Strix delicatula, Gould; Finsch & Hartl. P.Z.S. 1869, p. 545 et Journ. f. Ornith. 1870, p. 122. Native name Lulu (Hiibner, Graffe). One female from Eua, exactly resembling specimens from Feeiee. Contents of stomach, hairs of bats" (Hiibner). Mr. Hiibner observed this species also in the Hapai group, north of Tongataboo. " ° r 2. PLATYCERCUS TABUENSIS. Platycercus tabuensis (Gm.) ; Finsch, Papag. ii. p. 231 • F II. Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 123; Layard, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 500. Native name Kalca (Hiibner, Graffe). Nine specimens (collected in August 1876), all from Eua. The absence of red tips to the feathers of the lower rump or upper row of upper tail-coverts, as I have already remarked, is not a character of specific value in this bird. In the series before me there is only a single specimen which has the uropygium uniform green ; the others all show more or less red tips to the feathers, which in some are broad and very conspicuous; in two, also, the lesser and largest scapula-coverts have purplish-red tips. The extent and width of the blue neck-collar also varies individually ; generally it is broad and well defined, but in some examples is so • narrow and obscure that it nearly disappears. According to Dr. Graffe this species is confined to the island Eua; but Mr. Layard suggests that the bird has been introduced there from Fiji. Mr. F. Hiibner writes on this species (in litti) :-"Notwithstanding my utmost endeavours, I was not able to obtain certain information with respect to the breeding-time of the ' Kaka.' All the holes in the trees which I inspected were uninhabited; and even the natives could not tell me where eggs were to be found. But as I obtained young birds in August I am inclined to believe that June and July are the season of incubation, although females shot by me in these months did not show any development of the ovaries. In habits the Kaka does not differ from other Parrots ; it feeds on berries and fruits. The male and female are alike, except that the latter has a weaker bill. The young ones are obscure in colour, but they soon get the bright dress of the old ; the iris of the latter is orange, in the young-grey-brown." In my work on the Parrots I gave, on the authority of Peale, also the Fiji Islands as the locality for this species, considering Pl. atrogularis, Peale, and Pl. annce, Bourj., to be identical. This I now believe was a mistake, as also m y statement that Peale had |