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Show 1875.] REV. S. J. WHITMEE ON THE HABITS OF DIDUNCULUS. 495 Reptilia et Batrachia. Gymnotus segyptiacus. Crocodilus acutus. Lacerta viridis. Anguis fragilis. Coluber berus. Python tigris. Bufo vulgaris. Lissotriton vulgaris. Sieboldia maxima. Siren lacertina. Proteus anguinus. Amphiuma tridactylum. Pisces. Perca cernua, one corpuscle lying flat, the other on edge. Tinea vulgaris. Salmo fontinalis. Esox lucius. Gymnotus electricus. Squalus acanthias. Ammoccetes branchialis. Lepidosiren annectens. 3. On a Change in the Habits of the Didunculus strigirostris. By S. J. W H I T M E E , C.M.Z.S., F.R.Gr.S. [Received May 31, 1875.] Two or three mouths ago, in writing to Mr. Sclater on the Didunculus strigirostris of the Samoan Islands (P. Z. S. 1874, p. 183), 1 mentioned that the bird was evidently increasing in numbers, and I thought this increase might be accounted for by a change in its habits in feeding, roosting, and building. I have long known that it feeds now chiefly (I think I may say almost exclusively) upon high trees, instead of upon the ground as it formerly did. But I did not attribute much importance to that fact, because, the bird being wary, I thought its destruction by wild cats to be chiefly in the night when roosting, or when on the nest during the process of incubation, while rats would also destroy the eggs or young in the nest. Hence I did not see how a change in the place of feeding could alone account for the increase of the bird. I therefore made particular inquiries from natives who shoot birds for m e as to its roosting. From the information procured on this point I believe the Didunculi almost invariably roost now upon the high branches of trees instead of upon low stumps as formerly. The nest of this bird is so rarely found that few opportunities occur of learning where it builds. In 1871 I procured an egg which was taken from a nest on the ground; but last year I purchased an unfledged bird which was taken from a nest on a tree; and this morning I have received further information on this point which will, I think, be sufficiently interesting to naturalists to be worth sending. I was asking a native to procure some birds for me, and also to look out for eggs, when he said, " I found an egg of the Manu-mea (the native name of the Didunculus) the other day and threw it away." To this I replied, " W h a t a pity! W h y did you not bring it to m e ? I would have bought it. What was the egg like ? and where was the nest?" He answered, " T h e egg was white like that of the Lupe (the Carpophaga pacifica) ; and the nest was in the fork of a tree. I frightened the bird off, but could not shoot it. The Manu-mea seems to build on trees now-a-days ; I suppose it is on account |
