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Show 1876.] OF THE FIJIAN ISLANDS. 505 vestigation, in connexion with the distribution of the Megapodes, they seem to be confined, more or less, to them. Captain Suttie informed me that on Savo (Solomon Islands) he found the sea-shore divided into "paddocks" by stone walls, having no enclosure at the back, which led into the bush. These belonged each to an individual, or a family; and no one poached on his neighbour's ground. The Megapodes came down to the beach to lay their eggs in the sand, merely scratching a hole like that of a rabbit, and leaving it open after them. All eggs found in these enclosures belonged to the owner of the plot of ground. The birds made no nest, or mound, of any sort. Captain Suttie took some eggs on board ; and they hatched in a box in his cabin ! They fed on minute insects which they found in the sand brought on board with them, which they turned over continually ; when these failed they died. I have to make the following additional emendations on my "Notes on Fijian Birds" (anted, p. 423 et seq.). A new Parrakeet must be added to the list, T R I C H O G L O S S U S A U R E O C I N C T U S , mihi, found in various places, chiefly Taviuni, Viti Levu, and Ovalau. EUDYNAMIS TAITIENSIS, Sparrm. M y son and I obtained this Cuckoo on Wakaia, and saw several specimens, in the middle of September last. HALCYON CASSINI, F. & H. I cannot satisfy myself of the distinctness of this species from H. sacra. I do not think more than one form of Halcyon is found in Fiji; but they differ much at different ages; the sexes also differ. PTILOTIS PROVOCATOR, Layard. The egg is pale salmon-colour, generally speckled, but chiefly at the obtuse end, with largish spots of dark brown and indistinct purple. Axis 1", diam. \\v'. TURDUS VANICORENSIS, Quoy et Gaim., has not been found in Fiji. W e however, possess three true " Blackbirds":- T. bicolor, Layard, from Kandavu; T. vitiensis, Layard, from Bua; and T. tempesti, Layard, from Taviuni. I expect others will turn up in Viti Levu. ORTYGOMETRA QUADRISTRIGATA, Horsf. Inhabits the mountainous interior of Viti Levu. STREPSILAS INTERPRES, Linn. Shot on Koro by m y son. STERNA MELANAUCHEN, Temm. Several have been shot by m y son, on the reef at Levuka. |
