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Show 434 MR. E. L. L A Y A R D O N FIJIAN B I R D S . [June 1, Nevertheless, I have procured it all the year round, and from all parts of the group. It is called by the natives "Manu-sa." It frequents the Iri and Ndilo trees near the beach, and low scrub or high trees in the forest. Upper mandible bluish black ; lower pale yellow with dark tip ; legs bluish ; iris dark brown. The natives declare it assumes no other phase of plumage ; and I have certainly killed it all the year round, and found it with largely developed testes, but never saw any other. ARTAMUS MENTALIS, Jard.; F. & II. op. cit. p. 84. This "Wood-Swallow" is so eminently like a Martin (Hirundo urbica) in its appearance and manner of flight that, in m y first acquaintance with it on the wing, I shot it under the full impression that it was a Hirundine. Great was m y astonishment, therefore, to pick up a " Wood-Swallow." It is very local, a pair frequenting a favourite tree, and suffering no rivals near their throne. Even their young ones are driven off after a certain time. A pair at the Depot at Thawathi attacked a Cockatoo from the Solomon Islands (that flew at large about the house) in a cocoanut-tree, near which they built, and pecked out his eyes. I have been credibly informed they will attack and kill small half-grown fowls. The natives call it " Ndree," and on the Rewa " Vutiase." RHIPIDURA ALBOGULARIS, Layard, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 29. 2 • Upper parts above very dark black brown, tinged with a warm reddish brown on the rump and back ; eyebrow, chin, and throat white ; underparts greyish, more or less longitudinally striped with black and white, and tinged on the belly and vent with isabella colour. Primaries dark brown ; secondaries faintly edged with reddish brown; tertiaries and ccverts edged and tipt with the same. Tail-feathers dark brown, all but the four central broadly tipped with white. Bill black ; lower mandible white at the base, with dark tip ; bristles of bill black, and exceeding it in length. Legs blackish brown. Iris brown. Length 6"; wing 3"; tail 3" 6'" ; tarsus 10"; bill 6 A * This pretty little " Fantail" Flycatcher is found in the forest that clothes the island of Ovalau; elsewhere I have not seen it. It generally hunts in little families of three or four individuals, and darts at insects at rest on the leaves or twigs. I fancy also I have seen them dart upon and capture insects on the wing, when near them on the bush ; but their actions are very quick, and I am not sure of it. They frequently elevate and spread their tails, and are pugnacious little fellows, fighting fiercely with their companions. MONARCHA LESSONI (Homb. & Jacq.) ; F. & H. op. cit. p. 88. This little bird, clothed in quiet grey, like a demure Quaker girl, is an active bustling little body, roaming about in flocks, busily scouring branches and leaves for its favourite food, small insects. I found it commonest at Ngaloa Bay (Kandavu), but came across it in almost every other part of the colony. Iris brown ; bill and legs blue. |