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Show 784 DR. O. FINSCH O N BIRDS F R O M NIUAFOU ISLAND. [Nov. 20 M. pritchardi and M. stairi, F. & H. Ornith. Central-Polyn. pp. 153, 155. M. huttoni, Bull. Trans, and Proceed. N.Z. Inst. iii. 1871, p. 14. M. pritchardi, Hutt. ib. iv. 1872, p. 165. M. (? burnabyi, Gray), Finsch, Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 420. M, stairi, Finsch, ib. 1872, p. 52; Layard, P.Z.S. 1876, p. 496 (part.). M. burnabyi, Layard, P.Z.S. 1876, p. 583 (part.). Native name Malau, Hiibner. Male and female, old, and young bird (November 1876). The two former agree exactly in coloration and size ; the last is considerably smaller, but in colour like the old. Al. in. lin. 6 9 6 7 5 5 Eostr. a lin. 11 11 H rict. Tars. in. lin. 2 2 2 I 1 9 Di ig. med. lin. 14| 15 m Ung. lin. 7 8 6i-o* 2 Jun Since Mr. Layard assures us that M. stairi, Gray, was based on specimens from Ninafu (and not from Samoa, where no Megapode exists) the older name must be applied to this species. Mr. F. Hiibner gives us the following observations on this bird :- " The breeding-time of this species is not so confined to certain months as has been noticed by Mr. Wallace in respect of certain Malayan species. He gives as the season of incubation August and September ; but of this bird I got fresh eggs in October and November also, and, according to Captain Nagel and the natives, eggs are to be found likewise in other months. The newly hatched ones are yellowish-brown with brown undulations ; their necks are feathered and not marked as in the old birds. Immediately after leaving the eggs the young birds are not only able to run, but also to fly. The old birds are excellent runners ; their flight is somewhat heavy, as in the common fowl; when alarmed they perch on trees. The stomachs of those specimens which I shot I mostly found filled with land-shells, small crabs, and Scolopendras ; but in a few cases I found seeds. My captured specimens I fed with Blattae and Scolopendras, and the young ones (of which I kept one three weeks) with Termites and masbed cocoa-nuts. They refused to eat yams. The male may be distinguished at once from the female by its orange feet, which in the latter are yellow." 9. CHARADRIUS FULVUS, Gm. Native name Kiu, Hiibner. Three specimens shot in October (1876) in change of plumage, showing that this arctic species loses its summer garb in its winter resorts. One specimen has already the full winter dress ; the others are moulting and still show many black feathers on the under surface. 10. STREPSILAS INTERPRES (Linn). Native name Kiu-hina-hina, Hiibner. One male in the winter dress (October 1876). |