OCR Text |
Show 1883.] MR. P. L. SCLATER ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS. 347 Living specimens of the so-called West-Indian Fire-fly (Pyro-phorus noctilucus), lately presented by Mrs. Hall, were exhibited to the meeting. Mr. Sclater laid before the meeting a selection from a collection of birds from N e w Britain, N e w Ireland, and the Solomon Islands that • had been sent to him for examination by the Rev. George Brown, and called attention to some of the specimens, on which he made the following observations :- Nasiterna pusio, Scl. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 127 ; Salvad. O. P. ii. p. 127. Ten examples from Duke-of-York group and N e w Britain. There is no doubt now of the true patria of this species, which is not from the Solomons, but from N e w Britain and the Duke-of-York group. The Solomon Islands representative is N.finschi, Ramsay, P. L. S. N . S. W . vi. p. 180, which, according to Canon Tristram (Ibis, 1882, p. 138), is very distinct. Coriphilus subplacens (Scl.); Salvad. O. P. i. p. 310. Examples of both sexes of this pretty species from the Fead group, east of N e w Ireland, a new locality for it. Monarcha verticalis, Scl.; Salvad. O. P. ii. p. 25. Examples of this fine species from Topaia, N e w Ireland, and the Duke-of-York group. The sexes are coloured alike. Monarcha richardsi (Rams.) ; Salvad. O. P. iii. p. 529. One example of this remarkable species from Rubiana, S. I. Monarcha ugiensis (Rams.) ; Salvad. O. P. iii. p. 531. Five examples from Ugi, S. I., all coloured alike. I quite agree with Count Salvadori, that Monarcha is the proper genus for this species. Monarcha inornatus (Garn.) ; Salvad. O. P. ii. p. 14. A single skin, apparently of this widely distributed species; from Fead Island, north of the Solomon group, due west of N e w Ireland. (Cf. Ramsay, Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool. xvi. p. 129.) Graucalus monotonus, Tristram, Ibis, 1879, p. 441. A skin apparently referable to this species; but in such case the describer has omitted to notice the conspicuous white edgings of the inner webs of the primaries. Myzomela pulcherrima, Ramsay ; Salvad. O. P. iii. p. 542. Fourteen skins of this fine new species, from Ugi, S. I. Calornis feadensis, Ramsay, Journ. Linn. Soc. xvi. p. 129. A single skin of this newly described species, from Fead Island. |