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Show l->0 MR. E. L. LAYARD ON NEW BIRDS FROM FIJI. [Mar. 2, it, and had no name for it. Another, probably the female, was in company with it; but before the gun could be recharged it made off. Its stomach contained insects, which its strong hooked bill eminently fits it to capture and tear in pieces. Its resemblance in this respect is so Shrike-like that Mr. Kleinsmidt, a gentleman whose name is well known in connexion with Fijian zoology, exclaimed, at the first glance, " It is a Shrike." I have no description of the genus Lalage, and therefore place it therein with some hesitation ; but I know not where else it can be located, and its general appearance seems to tally with the form of L. banksiana, figured in Brenchley's ' Cruise of the Curacoa.' 2. TATARE ? VIRIDIS, sp. nov. Male. General colour throughout uniform olive-green, tinged with yellow ; inner webs of primaries very dark green, outer webs golden green; shafts of wing- and tail-feathers black above, pale yellow below ; underside of wing pale buff; plumage somewhat lax; tail-feathers pointed ; first quill of wing half the length of third, second quill much shorter than the third, which is shorter than the fourth; fourth, fifth, and sixth equal; seventh and others succeeding graduated. Bill and legs light orange, the former much curved, the latter strong, broadly scutellated in front, none behind. Length 10"; wing 5" 2'"; bill 1" 10"'; tarsi 1" 6'". Claws dark horn-colour, much curved. This singular bird, of which tbe native name is Toti, was procured in the mountain-regions of Taviuni, one of the Fiji Islands, by Lieut. Liardet, late of II.M. Navy. He describes it as "creeping" about the trunks of trees. Another was in company, but escaped. Iris deep red; tongue long, brushed at the tip. 3. PACHYCEPHALA TORQUATA, sp. nov. Male. Back, wings, and tail very dark, almost black, shaded with green on the outer edges of all the wing-feathers and back ; tip of tail pale ; head above black ; all the underparts of body and flexure of wing bright orange ; the gorget crossed by a broadish crescent-shaped black collar ; at the back of the neck or nape an indistinct (specimen badly preserved) orange collar; underside of wings and tail lighter than above, the inner edges of the secondaries buff; tip of tail pale; bill black ; legs horn-brown. Length (circa) 7"; wing 3" 10'"; tail 3"; tarsi 1"; bill 11"'. Female. Red-brown above, much paler beneath ; chin rufous; edges of wing-feathers and vent rufous. Shot in the mountains of Taviuni by Lieut. Liardet. Described as very quick in its motions and restless, always on the move. Its native name is Kula-oso. P. vitiensis is similar in its habits. 4. PACHYCEPHALA MACRORHYNCHA, sp. nov. General colour throughout reddish brown, paler on the underside, palest on the chin, reddest about the rump; tip of tail pale; bill very large, black; legs bluish. Length (circa) 7"; wing 3" 6'"; tail 3" ; bill 1" 2'" ; tarsi 10'". Iris dark brown. Sex unknown. |