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Show 1875.] MR. E. L. LAYARD ON NEW BIRDS FROM FIJI. 149 the length of the whole eye-area. The form of the vulva is very complicated ; this organ consists chiefly of a large,- broad, almost triangular or heart-shaped, corneous, slightly elevated, uneven blackish area, the base of which is directed forwards; this area shows a longitudinal furrow in the middle, and two other shorter and oblique ones on each side: in front the vulva is limited by a raised margin curved backwards ; and in the almost half-moon-shaped space between this margin and the base of the triangular area are two corneous obtuse teeth proceeding from the angles, and directed inwards and forwards. The two examples seen by me are females. In the larger of them the length of the cephalothorax is 6| millims., its breadth 5| millims., breadth of forehead (clypeus) 3 millims., height of clypeus If millim.; length of mandibles 3 millims.; first pair of legs 32 millims. (patella -f- tibia 10£, tibia 8$), second pair 29, third pair 22, fourth pair 24 (patella + tibia 7f, tibia 6) millims-; length of abdomen 11*. breadth 5| millims. From Madagascar. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXV. Fig.l. Nephila labillardierii 2, p. 130. Cephalothorax and abdomen, seen from above. 2. Nephila labillardierii 2 > var. (3. 3. Epeira cupidinea 2 > P- 135. 4. Lathrodectus geometricus 2 > P- 138. Abdomen, seen in profile. 6. Descriptions of some supposed new Species of Birds from the Fiji Islands. By E. L. L A Y A R D , F.Z.S., H.B.M.C. administering the Government. [Eeceived February 24, 1875.] 1. LALAGE NIGROGULARIS, sp. nov. General colour above brown, below cinereous; top of head cinereous; each feather having a pale edge, presents a slightly scaled appearance; wing-feathers brown, inner webs darkest, outer webs slightly tinged with greenish yellow on the outer edge ; tail-feathers in strong light closely barred; covering the nostrils is a patch of black extending into a broadish eyebrow : this coalesces with the black of the throat behind the ear, which is covered by a large white patch; above the black eyebrow a faint whitish streak ; chin and upper portion of throat black, this separated from the cinereous of the underparts by a broken, irregular, white band; vent and under tail-coverts whitish, tinged with isabella colour ; underside of wing- and tail-feathers paler than the upper, the latter much paler at the tips ; upper edge of the wing inside deep black ; axillaries whitish ; bill and legs blue, changing into black after death; iris brown. Length 8", wing 4" V", tail 3" 9'", tarsi 1" 1"', bill 1" 2'". This description is taken from a male in full breeding-plumage, testes well developed, shot on the 16th of November, on the hills at the back of Levuka. The natives to whom it was shown did not know |