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Show 1875.] MR. E. L. LAYARD ON FIJIAN BIRDS. 435 MYIAGRA CASTANEIVENTRIS (J. Verreaux); F. &K.op. cit. p. 95. This Flycatcher is common throughout the islands ; and its shrill note may be heard in every situation. Nests said to belong to this bird have been brought me from many localities; they precisely resemble that figured by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub as the nest of Ptilotis carunculata, being beautiful compact cup-like structures made of fibres and rootlets (horsehair and cowhair being even used in some localities for lining), and covered outside with pieces of lichen most beautifully stuck in, so as to resemble a knot on a branch. They are generally placed on a drooping branch, or in a fork, and are about 2 inches in diameter, and 1^ deep. One nest was placed in the bend of a drooping bough, and from below looked a mere excrescence. They build in bread-fruit trees, Casuarina, and, in fact, on almost everything suitable. Mr. Storck writes that they are capital watchers, giving warning of approaching hawks. Eggs said to be blue. ERYTHRURA PEALEI, Hartl.; F. & H. op. cit. p. 99. This queer little Amadavat has not occurred to me personally, but has been sent me by m y kind contributors, Messrs. Storck and Abbot, from the Rewa. The former writes, " Feeds on grass and other seeds, and minute insects. Native name * Sithi.' Iris and bill black ; feet and legs a dull pink. E. pealei occurs sparingly at Bua, on the north coast of Vana Levu; was procured there by Mr. Tempest." Kleinsmidt says, " called there Nrisi." I saw on the plantations on the Navua river, Viti Levu, a small Amadina ? in flocks, that may have been A. optata ; but that is not as yet known from any island in the Fiji group. APLONIS TABUENSIS (Gmel.); F. & H. op. cit. p. 103. This sombre-coloured bird seems pretty generally distributed. I obtained it at Randavu and Suva; Messrs. Storck and Abbot on the Rewa, m y son on Loma Loma, Mr. Liardet on Taviuni. It is said to nest in the mangrove scrub; and a nest with slightly hard-set eggs, brought m e from Wakaia (December 26th, 1874), was a loose structure, composed entirely of the fibre-like frond of Casuarina. Internal diam. 3", external 5"; depth 1" 9'". Eggs blue (pale), and generally spotted with purple-brown spots. The natives on the Rewa call it " Kikaw." MERULA VANICORENSIS (Quoy & Gaim.) ; F. & H. op. cit. p. 97. Unless m y memory much deceives me, this bird was shot on Kandavu by Dr. Goode, of H.M.S. 'Dido,' in August 1874. PTILINOPUS PEROUSEI, Peale; F. & H. op. cit. p. 110. This most lovely Dove, called by some the "Nutmeg Dove," seems pretty generally distributed, as I have seen it in, and received it from, Kandavu, Rewa (on Viti Levu), Ovalau, Wakaia, Mango, and Bua (on Vanua Levu). I obtained eggs of it hard-set on October 7, 1874, and young birds just beginning to assume the purple of the |
