OCR Text |
Show 576 DR. O. FINSCH ON THE BIRDS OF RUK. [Nov. 16, resembles that of M. pluto from Ponape. It is cup-shaped, 12'" deep by 20'" to 24'" in diameter, and consists of fine grass fibres, &c, covered all over outside with moss and lichen. The egg (c. 10'" long) is of a shining cream-colour, passing faintly into isabel-line. A little above the centre, towards the larger end, there is a broad ring of reddish-brown spots, which are confluent and are mixed with some greyish ones ; the remaining portion of the egg has a few reddish speckles. The nest is placed on the branches of trees, and contains mostly a single egg, seldom two. The breeding-season is nearly the whole year through. I inspected eggs collected in May, June, and August. • This is a very good species, and by no means identical with M. albiventris, Peale, as was suggested by us (Ornith. Centralpolyn. p. 93). I add a short description:- Male. Upper parts slate-grey; wing and tail darker, of a brownish black ; head above with steel-black lustre ; underparts white ; chin pale ; throat and upper part of a bright rust-red. Female. Like the male, but paler; above smoky brown; head above the same, underneath with only the throat washed with rufous-yellow. Long. al. caud. rostr. Lat. rostr. Long. tars. o" Q" 7'" n""' 4"' q"' This species is much larger than M. albiventris ; the latter only the chin and throat vivid rufous-red and the upper parts black. 7. CALORNIS PACIFICUS (Gm.). Specimens from Ruk agree with others from Ponape and Kushai, although some look apparently a little more shining. A young male has the feathers of the underparts from below the throat distinctly margined on the sides with whitish, forming light longitudinal stripes, as I described in Palau specimens. *8. ERYTHRURA TRICHROA (Kittl.). 9. PTILOPUS PONAPENSIS, Finsch. Agrees with Ponape specimens. *10. CARPOPHAGA OCEANICA, Less. 11. PHLOG02NAS ERYTHROPTERA (Gm.). Agrees with specimens from Ponape. *12. STREPSILAS INTERPRES, L. *13. CHARADRIUS FULVUS, Gm. 14. NUMENIUS PHJEOPUS, L. This is perhaps rather N. uropygialis, as the specimens have a dark-barred rump. 15. ACTITIS INCANA (Gm.). |