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Show 436 MR. E. L. LAYARD ON FIJIAN BIRDS. [June 1, forehead in December. The eggs are pure white, rather pointed at one end ; axis 1" 4'", diam. 11'". Tbe natives say the two eggs are always male and female. Its favourite food, as in others of the genus, is the seeds of the Banian; but it will swallow fruits of very large dimensions ; I have, in fact, seen hard seeds bigger than nutmegs taken from its crop. The young bird and the female are green, with the vent-feathers magenta-coloured; the edges also of the wing-feathers and secondaries are yellow. It appears to me that Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub have figured the young male or a female of the next species for the young of this. I have never seen Pt. perousei with yellow vent-feathers and a barred tail. Mr. Storck writes from the Rewa that the native name is Sanakulu or Kuluvotu. " Feeds on the berries of the Banian tree, the Loxanthus, or rat-mistletoe, and the unripe seeds of the Mavu tree (Euphorbia), and is more or less gregarious." Mr. R. L. Holmes, of Bua, gives the native name of the bird as " Bune-solove." PTILINOPUS FASCIATUS, Peale; F. & H. op. cit. p. 115. This beautiful Dove is very abundant in Wakaia, breeding there in December. The eggs are pointed at one end, like those of the preceding species; axis 1"4'", diam. 11'". Like them also they nest in low trees in the forest, making a rude structure of twigs. The voice of this bird is just like that of the Turtledove, and at once attracted my attention. M y son, too, hearing it on Mang-o (where it seems equally common), at once recognized its likeness to the voice of Turtledoves at the Cape. It must be local in its distribution, none having come from the Rewa; nor did we get it on Kandavu ; nor in the course of m y visit to Viti Levu or Taviuni did I hear of it. The female exactly resembles the male, the dark purple spot on the stomach being perhaps less prononcee. The birds of this species are of a yellow buff colour, and the legs crimson, the bill green. CHRYSCENA LUTEOVIRENS(Homb.& Jacq.); ¥.&H.op.cit.p. 134. The " Golden Dove " of the settlers is an inhabitant of the forest-covered parts of the island of Ovalau and the Rewa. It is in full breeding-plumage during the months of October, November, and December, the testes of the male being enormously developed. The female and young males are green. Eggs brought to me by the natives as belonging to this species are, axis 1" 2'", diam. 1". The voice of this bird is a bark, like the short "yap " of a puppy. This is peculiar to the three species of the genus found on these islands, and at once betrays their presence ; but they are far oftener heard than seen, being most difficult to distinguish amid the foliage. The iris is yellow buff, the naked space round the eye, the bill, and legs being in life of the most brilliant emerald green ; this rapidly fades after death ; tip of the bill yellowish. Like the others, it is capable of swallowing very large seeds, but it also feeds on a small purple berry ; and its droppings stain a-deep black, like ink, and equally indelible. On the Rewa it is called "Bora-bora-tana." On Ovalau |