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Show 264 MR. W. A. FORBES O N T H E GENUS MYZOMELA. [MAR. 4, 8. MYZOMELA JUGULARIS. Myzomela jugularis, Peale, U.S. Expl. Exped. p. 151, t. 41. f. 2 (1848); Cassin, U.S. Expl. Exped. p. 176, t. 1 2. f. 2 (jr.) (1858); H. & F. Orn. Centr.-Pol. p. 54, t. 7. figs. 1, 2 (ad. et jr.). Myzomela solitaria, Hombr. & Jacq. Voy. Pole Sud, Zool. iii. p. 99, Atlas, t. 22. f. 6 (1853). Ad. fusco-nigricans, subtus flavescenti-albida, mento, gula, macula-quemagna occipitalicum uropygio coccineis; gutture croceo-flayo; remigibus, primis duobus exceptis, et tectricibus alarum majoribus flavido marginatis; rectricibus, duabus mediis exceptis, tectrici-busque alee minoribus nonnullis ad apicem albis; rostro nigro, pedibus cornels. Long. al. 2*45, caud. 1*6, rostr. *6, tarsi *55 (poll. Angl.). Jr. macula occipitali nulla, gutture sordide flavo, et uropygio brunneo-olivaceo distinguenda. Hab. in insulis Vitiensibus. This Myzomela hardly admits of being mistaken for any other species. It is perhaps most nearly related to M. lafargii of the Solomon Islands, but is at once distinguishable from that species by the red throat and orange-yellow chest, besides other differences. The red of the throat is separated from the yellow of the chest by a distinct though narrow black line. The red on the back appears last, that on the chin first. In not fully plumaged birds the rump and lower back are olivaceous. The sexes when adult are nearly alike, the female being only distinguishable by the colours being less bright. Very often, too, thougb not always, the red occipital spot is absent in the female. Mr. Murray records the iris as " black," Mr. Layard as " brown," the legs being " verditer " and '* dark livid " in the living bird, with the soles of the feet yellow. This bird is entirely confined to the Fijis, where, according to Mr. Layard's list (Ibis, 1876, p. 391), it is found in all the larger islands of that group1; and in addition to the islands enumerated by him, specimens from Matuku are in the British Museum (Rayner). Its occurrence in the Samoan group has not yet been confirmed (cf. Whitmee, Ibis, 1875, p. 447). Hombron & Jacquinot indicated their "Myzomele solitaire" as being from the "lies Salomon" with some doubt ; and, reiving on them, Mr. Sclater included " M. solitaria" in his list of Solomon-Island Birds (P.Z. S. 1869, p. 124), where, however, only 31. lafargii, so far as is yet known, occurs. 9. MYZOMELA LAFARGII. Myzomela lafargei, Hombr. & Jacq. Voy. Pole Sud, Zool. 98, t. 22. f. 5 (1853). Corpore supra cvm capite, gutture et pectore superiore nigris; oc-cipite coccineo ; abdomine flavido-olivaceo ; alis caudaque nigris, See also P. Z. S. 1875, p. 431, for an interesting account of its habits. |