7. THE BIRDS OF RENNELL ISLAND
BY
DIANA BRADLEY a n d TORBEN WOLFF BRITISH MUSEUM (NAT. HIST.), LONDON ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM, COPENHAGEN
CONTENTS
Introduction...... 85 Birds of Rennell Island ...... 87 Number and relationship of the Rennetl birds.. .. 115 Birds of Bellona Island ...... 117 Summary ...... 119 References...... 119
INTRODUCTION
The present paper is partly a compilation of previously published records on the bird fauna of Rennell (and Bellona) Islands, and partly the results of the two recent Expeditions to Rennell. The first collector on Rennell Island was C. M. Woodford, who went there in 1906 and brought back with him, among other things, a bird which was described by N o rth as a new genus and species of the Zosteropidae, Woodfordia supcrciUosa. In 1927 G. A. V. S tanley visited Rennell from 15 August to 10 October and collected nine species (eleven specimens) of birds which were kept in alcohol. They were iden tified by Kinghorn ten years later (together with two specimens of a honey-eater also brought back by Woodford in 1906). We owe most of our present knowledge of the avifauna of Rennell to the Whitney South Sea Expedition which called there twice (27 August - 7 September 1928 and 17-29 May 1930) and collected 380 skins in all, representing 38 species. This fine collection was reported on by M ayr (1931). Finally, the Templeton Crocker Expedition visited Rennell several times in 1933 (6 June, 18-21 June, and 21 July). It secured 24 skins, representing nine species, which were listed by D avidson (1934).
In 1951 T o rben W olff, a member of the Galathea Deep Sea Expedition, visited the island with the Danish Rennell Expedition from 12 October to 14 November. He collected in the Kanggava Bay area and the central part of the island and made one visit to Lake Te-Nggano. The collecting localities are listed by W olff (1955 b) and information about the nature of Rennell as well as a map of the island is given in the general Introduction (W olff 1955 a). In 1953 Diajs’a B rad ley visited Rennell liand with her husband to obtaip spec imens for the British Museum (Natural History). They collected on the eastern par^ of the island from 15 October to 28 November. A list of localities is given by J. D. B rad ley (1955). Immediately prior to Mr. and Mrs. B ra d ley ’s visit Dr. M arshall Laird and his wife made a short stay on Rennell and Bellona (Laird & Laird 1956). Altogether twelve specimens (representing seven species) were collected and blood smears taken as part of a survey of avian haematozoa in the Pacific. Dr. Laird has kindly allowed us to include data and measurements of the birds in the present report (marked “M. L.”). The collection is now in the Dominion Museum, Wellington, where Dr. R. F a lla was good enough to take the measurements given below. We wish to express our thanks to both. In this paper information (field notes, etc.) obtained by W o lff is marked “(TW)”, that obtained by Diana Bradley “(DB)”. All specimens collected by W o lff and now in the Copenhagen Museum are marked “C.M.” and those collected by Diana B rad ley and now in the British Museum are marked “B.M .” . Specimens were cither made into study skins or preserved in spirit. The latter are indicated in the text by the letter “S” preceding the collector’s number, which is in brackets. Some specimens were not kept, but were measured; they are indicated by the letters “NK”. Measure ments of specimens in spirit were taken while the birds were still fresh. The others were made on dried skins. Bills were measured from the feathers at the base of the culmen following the method used by M ayr (1931). All measurements are in millimetres. W o lff shot all the birds collected by the Danish Expedition. For various reasons his stay at the Lake in the interior had to be cut down to two days, which meant a comparatively low proportion of lake-dwelling birds in his collection. Specimens collected by Diana Bradley were brought to her by the natives, who killed them with catapults or caught them in snares, their usual method of catching birds for food. Nests were sometimes brought to her with any contents they had, and some times she was shown the nests in situ. She was largely dependent on native inform ation about the ownership of nests, except in the case of Plilinopus richardsii and Myzomela cardinalis, which had identifiable nestlings. Native information seemed to be reliable, for there was rarely any disagreement when several were questioned inde pendently. As Dr. F. W. B raestrup of the Copenhagen Museum is to treat the zoogeogra phy of the entire vertebrate land-fauna of Rennell Island as a whole, we have re frained from elaborating on the general conclusions to be drawn from the present material. His paper will be published as No. 9 of “1 he Natural History of Rennell Island” (Braestrup 1956). The native names of the birds are included in the text. About half of them were recorded by both authors, most of the others by Mrs. B rad ley. For details about the names and the role played by the birds as a source of food for the natives, see W o lff (1955 c). The English names are according to M ayr (1945 a), and the species are considered in the same order. Some of the colours of the specimms collected by W olff (especially of bills, legs, •etc.) were described by means of a colour index, viz. E. S eguy : Code universel des couleurs, Paris 1936.
We wish to express our thanks to Dr. F in n Salom o nsen (Copenhagen) and Mr.
J. D. M a c d o n a l d (London) for assistance during the preparation of the report.
BIRDS OF RENNELL ISLAND
1. Podiceps novaehollandiae rennellianus Mayr Manusingi; Australian Dabchick.
Colymbus ruficollis longiroslris (nec. Bo n n a t e r r e , 1790) M a y r, 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 3; Rennell Island. Podiceps novaehollandiae rennellianus M a y r , 1943, Emu, 43, p. 6; (nom. nov.).
S p e cim en s. Wing Bill Tarsus (135)5 ad. 18 Nov. 1953. Lake Te-Nreano 107 21 38 B.M. 009) 2 ad. 8 Nov. 1953 - - _ 100 21 37 B.M. (154) ? ad. 24 Nov. 1953 - - - (Moult) 21 35 B.M.
Colour of bill, black: skin at base of bill, lemon-yellow; legs, black; iris, yellow.
Field notes. A clutch of two plain white eggs was examined on 29 October; dimensions; 38 ■ 25, 37 v 25 (DB). T axonom ic notes. When compared with specimens in the British Museum col lections these specimens do not show very distinctly the characteristics of the race rennellianus. described by M a y r . D istribution. Rennell Island.
2. Pelecanus conspicillatus Temminck Kosi; Australian Pelican.
Pelecanus conspicillatus T e m m in c k , 1824, Planch. Col. d'ois., livr. 47, pi. 276; New South Wales.
L a ir d (1954) saw this species in the New Hebrides and reported it from Rennell (native information). About twenty had arrived early in 1952, and at the time of his visit, some eighteen months later, only two were known to be still living on the shores of the lake. The rest had been hunted for food. According to L a ir d pelicans “were quite new to the Rennellese”. They were probably carried to the New Hebrides and the Solomons (cf. C a in & G albraith 1956) from Queensland and New Guinea during a gale between 3 and 7 March 1952, blowing at altitudes between 1000 and
2300 metres (cf. M adsen (1930) who gives an explanation for the reason why large birds (such as pelicans, kites, vultures, crows, storks, etc.) are often observed at alti tudes of more than 1000 m in hot, tropical areas). No birds were seen at the time of my visit but the natives told me that pelicans have occurred before, which differs from the information given to L air d (DB). D istribution. Australia and South New Guinea; occasionally in the Solomons and the New Hebrides. , 3. Sula sola n ib ri^ Gould , Kanapu;‘ Red-footed Booby. , < Sula rubripes G o u l d , 1838, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. 4, App., p. 7; Raine Island, Queensland.
S p ecim en . Wing Tail Bill (137) ? imm. 20 Nov. 1953. Lake Te-Nggano 393 218 84 B.M.
Colour of bill, purplish-pink, darker at tip; legs, light salmon-pink; iris, outer ring, grey, inner, mauve.
Field notes. During a voyage on 22 October from Lavanggu to Te-Uhungango on the South coast of Rennell several boobies and many terns were observed on a reef just east of the southern entrance to Kanggava Bay. Due to the heavy swell it was impossible to make closer observations or to determine their specific identity (TW). T axonom ic notes. The present specimen matches a large series of immature birds in the British and Copenhagen Museums. The mottled upperparts, white throat and upper breast distinguish it from the other two species of Sula occurring in the S. W. Pacific. The only race of S. sula recorded from there is S. s. rubripes Gould. D istribution. Indian, tropical western and central Pacific Oceans.
4. Sula leucogaster plotus (Forster) Kanapu;^ Brown Booby. . '
Pelecanus plotus F o rster, 1844, Descr. Anim., ed. Licht., p. 278; near New Caledonia.
Field notes. On 24 November 1953 the following observations were made on a bird caught on the North coast of the island and kept in captivity in one of the villages: Some white down still present on crown of head, upper flanks and breast; general colour chocolate-brown; small inner wing feathers and under wing coverts greyish- white; belly brownish-white and sharply demarcated from breast; tail and tail coverts still with white downy tips; throat sparsely covered with growing feathers; bill, blue- grey at base and nearly translucent at tip; legs yellowish-pink; iris, blue-grey; bare skin at base of lower bill, blue-grey. Voice, honking note. The condition of this spe cimen suggested that it had been bred on the island (DB). T axonom ic notes. This description matches immature specimens in the British Museum. D istribution. Tropical western Pacific.
5. Phalacroconix melanoleucus brevicauda Mayr Manukitai; Little Pied Cormorant.
Fhalacrocorax melanoleucus brevicauda M ayr, 1931, Amer. M us. Novit., 486, p. 3; Rennell Island.
S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads (22) cJ imm. 23 Oct. 1951 Lake Te-Nggano 200 132 30 37 8 C M . (30)? ad. 21 Oct. 1953 - - 208 122 32 36 B.M.
Colour of bill, black on top, yellow at sides and below (in No. 22 with a brownish tinge); legs, black; iris in No. 22, brownish-black.
1. This name probably applies to both species of Sula recorded, Field notes. Seveiral cormorants were observed flying round a oest in the forest on the mainland near Niupani at the western tnd of Lake Te-Nggano (TW). At the eastern end of the lake the species nested in trees on Tautiage, two small islets in Lake Te-Nggano. The nests were bulky affairs, built of twigs plentifully covered with excreta, and extremely smelly. Every evening birds were seen flying east over Hutuna in the direction of Tautiage. On canoe journeys on the lake parties of 8-10 birds were frequently disturbed (DB). * Stomach contents of No. 22, small specimens of a fish (Eleolris sp.) and prawns from the lake (TW). D istribution. Rennell Island.
6. Fregata ariel ariel (Gray) Kataha; Least Man-o’-War.
Atagen ariel G . R. G r a y , 1845, Genera Birds, 3, col. pi. (185); Raine Island, Queensland.
Sp ecim en. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (136) ? ad. 20 Nov. 1953 Lake Te-Nggano 545 340 98 19 B.M.
Colour of bill, blue-grey; legs, light pinkish-grey; iris, brown; skin of throat, light blue-grey.
Field notes. Roosts in trees. Very clumsy at landing in trees, and often has to make several attempts (DB). T axonom ic notes. This specimen matches others in the British and Copen hagen Museum collections from the South Pacific, which are the nominate form. D istrib u tion . From China and the Philippines to northern Australia and western Pacific.
7. Casmerodius albus modestus (Gray) Tongoa; White Egret.
Ardea modestus J. E. G ray , 1831, Zool. Misc.. p. 19; India.
S pecim en. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (151) ad. 24.NOV. 1953 Lake Te-Nggano 380 146 113 160 B.M.
Colour of bill, old ivory-yellow; legs, black; iris, yellow.
Field notes. This egret does not seem to have been recorded before as far east as the Solomon Islands. We only saw two birds in the vicinity of Lake Te-Nggano and it is possible that this, the largest stretch of fresh ^^ate^ in the islands, offers the only attraction for it.
The native name “Tongoa” is recorded by H a m lin & M ayr (1931) for the Spoonbill, Platalea regia. We were given this name for the egret, and were told that the spoonbill did not have a name (DB). T axonom ic notes. This specimen seems to be similar to the specimens iden tified as the race modestus. D istribution. From India, S. E. Asia and Japan throughout the Indo-Australian Archipelago east to New Guinea, Australia, and Rennell Island. . 8. Egretta sacra sawa (Gmelin) , » Kagau; Reef Heron. , « Ardea sacra Gmelin, 1789, Syst. Nat., /, pt. 2, p. 640; Tahiti. Demigretta sacra sacra M a y r & A m a don 1941, Amer. Mus. Novit., 1144, p. 3.
Rennell (and Bellona) records: M ayr 1931: 4; D av idso n 1934: 190; K in g h o r n 1937: 180.
S pecim en. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (44) 2 ad. 6 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 286 100 84 74 C M .
Colour of bill, upper mandible, greyish black, lower, yellowish; legs, straw-yellow; iris, yellow.
Field notes. Rather common along the coast of Kanggava Bay. Voice, a strong, rolling note, lasting about one second (TW). A Reef Heron was seen on 30 November 1953. It was a grey phase bird; the natives only report the light and dark phases and have no knowledge of the mottled phase (DB). Stomach contents, 5-8 cm long fishes, two shrimps and one small crab (TW).
Taxonom ic notes. We follow D e la c o u r & M ayr (1945) in not accepting the genus Demigretta. This bird is in the grey phase (with white gular stripe and a few white feathers along the edge of the wings). The wing length is longer than usual in this subspecies, although not so long as in the other females collected on Rennell:
289 mm (M ay r ), 292 mm (D a v id so n ), and 292 mm (K in g h o r n ). D istribution. From S.E. and E.Asia to Australia, New Zealand, and eastern Polynesia.
9. Dupetor flavicollis (?) pallidior Mayr Gou; Black Bittern.
Dupetor flavicollis pallidior M ay r, 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 5; Rennell Island.
S p ecim en . Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads (152)^ ad. 24 Nov. 1953 Lake Te-Nggano 191 67 73 67 14 B.M.
Colour of bill, upper mandible, black, lower, yellow; legs, olive-brown; iris, orange-yellow.
Taxonomic notes. M a y r based the race pallidior on two female specimens which he described as “much paler than woodforcli''. This specimen is the first male to be taken on Rennell and should, presumably, illustrate the characteristics of male pallidior. Direct comparison with male woodfordi has not been made, but according to the description of the latter given by M a y r (1945 b) this bird is generally lighter coloured. It is dark earth-coloured on the upperparts and dark brown below and in the centre of the throat, with buff on the sides of the throat. It matches quite closely a specimen of gouldi in the British Museum, from the Mimika River, New Guinea. Another New Guinea male and one from south-west Australia are appreciably blacker. It seems possible, therefore, that there may not be any valid colour differences separating males of woodfordi and pallidior from gouldi. A point to consider is the fact that Ogilvie-Graxt put woodfordi into a different genus to gouldi because of the greater length of the tarsus in relation to middle toe and claw. The ratio in the Rennell bird agrees with that of gouldi. The position is, therefore, that the Rennell male
^ ' agrees)more or less w;ith gouldi in both colour and tarsus/toe ratio, although the ■females are very much paler. * Distrrbution. Rennell Island.
10. Threskiornis molucca pygmaeus Mayr Tagoa; White Ibis.
Threskiornis aethiopicus pygmaeus M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 6; Rennell Island.
Threskiornis molucca pygmaeus K in g h o r n 1937, Proc. Zool. Soc. (B), J07, p. 180.
Rennell records: W o o d fo r d 1916: 119; M ayr 1931:6; D av idso n 1934: 191; K in g h o r n 1937: 180,
S pecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (11) 9 ad. 17 Oct. 1951 Te-Avamanggu 323 120 114 72 C.M. S(35)*^imm. 2 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 130 C.M. (38) o' imm. 23 Oct. 1953 Hutuna 295 (Moult) 136 81 B.M.
Coolur of bill, black (No. 38 pinkish at base); legs of No. 38, black; of No. 11, red with a black tinge; underside of toes, black; iris of No. 38, brown; of No. 11, black.
Field notes. Common round the villages in the early morning. Is found every where on the island, even in the middle of the forest. The alarm note is a harsh “yow yow” (DB) or a strong, nasal “nghooh” (TW); the call note is "powk”. Stomach contents of No. 11 were land snails up to the size of Cepaea nemoralis; No. 35 had the stomach brim-full of maggots, 1.5 cm long. Both specimens were heavily infested with Mallophaga, and No. 11 with Ornithomyia (TW). Taxonomic notes. M ayr (1931) identified Rennell specimens as the African species, T. aethiopicus. We find that our specimens agree best with T. molucca. It seems that the two species can be distinguished by the dark-coloured parts of the secondaries of aethiopicus being plain w hereas in molucca they are mottled; the e.\tent of the mottling varies between juvenile and adult, but it is present in all the specimens examined. (We are indebted to Dr. Theresa Clay for drawing our attention to the fact that the birds were likely to be molucca because she found the Mallophaga from our specimens to be near or identical with those of that species). In the immature male (No. 38) the upper secondaries are almost pure brown on the outer half, while the lower ones are light slate-grey and are mottled with white. The immature male (No. 35) still has the head totally covered with feathers which are almost uniformly slate-grey. The feathers on the neck are white with a slate-grey shaft stripe which decreases in width towards the lower neck. The feathers on the shoulders are cinnamon buff. No. 38 has the skull almost naked and the scattered feathers on the neck browner than in No. 35. Feathers on shoulders almost pure white. D istribution. Rennell and Bellona Islands.
2. Only head and neck kept. 11. Platalea re^a Gould White Spoonbill.
Platalea regia G o u ld , 18.18, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. 4, App., p. 7; New South Wales. Platalea leucorodia regia M ayr, 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 5; Rennell Island. Platalea regia, Amadon & W oolfenden, 1952, ibid., 1564; p. 5.
Neither of the present expeditions succeeded in securing this rare species which so far is known from Rennell only by one semi-adult specimen. However, two spoonbills were seen by B rad ley on the edge of Lake Te-Nggano on 18 November 1953. It is still somewhat uncertain whether this species breeds on Rennell or not. In M ayr’s zoogeographical remarks on the Rennell birds (Hamlin & Mayr, 1931, p. 8) he regards it as breeding and in his Handbook (1945) as “a rare inhabitant of Lake Tenggano” . However, in his List of New Guinea Birds (1941, p. II) he records it as a straggler on Rennell (and on the islands north and northwest of Australia). Amadon & Woolfenden consider it difficult to believe that it does not breed outside Australia since it wanders so widely. Moreover, it has been stated that it has recently begun to nest in Java. We also consider it a breeding bird on Rennell Island, although it is not yet proved. D istribution. Breeds in Australia and in a few places outside this continent (Java,? Rennell Island). Occasionally as a straggler on Celebes, Timor, Moluccas, and New Guinea.
12. Anas superciliosa pelewensis Hartlaub & Finsch Gamanagi; Australian Grey Duck.
Anas superciliosa var. pelewensis H artlaub & Finsch, 1872, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 108; Palau Islands.
Rennell records: S t a n l e y 1929: 19; M a y r 1931: 7.
Specim ens. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (21) 5 ad. 22 Oct. 1951 Lake Te-Nggano 212 82 37 36 C M . (34)>^ ad. 23 Oct. 1953 - - (Moult) 44 B.M.
Colour of bill, black (No. 21) and slate-grey with black tip (No. 34); legs, brownish (No. 21) and light pinkish-grey (No. 34); iris, light-brown.
Field notes. S ta n ley (1929, p. 19) mentioned that when he camped at Lake Te-Nggano in 1927 this species “came ashore among the tents . . . and was easily knocked down with sticks”. We also found that it was quite fearless; this seems to be due to the fact that because they are regarded as dirty feeders the natives do not eat them. The birds were observed swimming in pairs on the lake. Stomach contents, seeds, small snails and larvae of insects of which only those of caddis-flies were identifiable (TW). On 23 October two ducklings were examined; they were just out of down, and had a clearly visible eyestripe. Two eggs were seen on 20 November (DB). T axonom ic notes. The wing of the female shows no wear and its length corre sponds to the length of wings of the three females, previously recorded from Rennell
3. Wing only kept. (M ayr 1931; 206-214 irim). These four®Rennell birds have considerably smaller wing lengths than the range given by A m a do n (1943, p. 4) for eight females of this sub species from the Solomons (219-226 mm). The male is in eclipse plumage, but the wing lengths of the four adult males collected by the Whitney Expedition on Rennell show a lower average than that given by Amadon for twelve males from various islands in the Solomon Group, probably including the four males from Rennell (225-236 for Rennell against 227-240 for the entire Solomon Group). The length of bills of the males from Rennell is less than the average length of the Solomon spec imens; Amadon gives no length of bills of females. Further investigation may show whether the Rennell birds are really smaller than those in the rest of the Solomons. D istribution. From New Guinea and New Caledonia through Melanesia to Micronesia and Polynesia.
13. Anas gibberifrons remissa Ripley Gamanagi mihatohoa; Gray Teal.
Anas gibberifrons gibberifrons M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 7; Rennell Island. Anas castanea remissa R ip le y , 1942, Auk, 59, pt. 1, p. 94.
Taxdnom ic notes.. According to Dr. M a y r (in litt.) it has recently been proved that the two species castanea and gibberifrons are sympatric as breeding birds over large areas in Australia. D istribution. Rennell Island.
14. Accipiter fasciatus subsp.? Taba; Australian Goshawk.
Astur Fasciatus V ig o r s & Horsfield, 1827, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, /5 , p. 181; New South Wales. Urospiza fasciata rennelliana K i n c h o r n , 1937, Proc. Zool. Soc. London. (B) 107, p. 180. Accipiter fasciatus fasciatus Condon & Amadon, 1954, Rec. S. Austr. Mus., ] l, 2, p. 208.
Rennell records: M a y r 1931; 8; K i n g h o r n 1937; 180.
Field notes. Two specimens were seen on 30 November 1953 (DB). D istribution. Almost the whole of Australia, Tasmania, Rennell and Bellona Islands.
15. Pandion haliaetus melvillensis Mathews Manggivai; Osprey.
Pandion haliaetus melvillensis M a th e w s , 1912, Austr. Av. Rec., /, p. 34; Melville Island, Northern Territory.
S pecim en . Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (24)$im m . 29 0ct. 1951 Lavanggu 432 188 37 51 C M .
Colour of bill, black; legs, greyish green; iris, red-brown.
Field notes. The osprey probably breeds on Rennell, according to local in formation. Stomach contents, small marine fishes (TW). T axonom ic notes. The specimen has ill feathers fringed with white,and is mottled dark brown and white on top^^f the head. It matches well another immature specimen of this race in the Copenhagen Museum. < D istribution. From Malaya, Indonesia, and New Guinea to tropical Australia and New Caledonia.
16. Porphyrio porphyrio subsp.? Kanggai; Purple Swamphen.
Fuiica porphyrio L in n a e u s , 1766, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, /; Lands bordering western Mediterranean Sea, Porphyrio albus me/anoplerus (?) M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit. 486, p. 8. Porphyrio porphyrio samoensis M ay r, 1949, ibid., 1417, p. 22.
Rennell records; M ayr 1931: 8; K in g h o r n 1937: 180.
Field notes. The swamphen is still considered a pest by the natives as previously pointed out by Hamlin (Hamlin & Mayr 1931) and Hogbin (1933) who saw fences against the swamphens round banana groves. At Niupani on Lake Te-Nggano the natives surround their taro fields with fences to prevent the swamphen from invading them. Nevertheless, swamphens were seen in taro swamps by both of us. D istribution. From the Bismarck Archipelago to Samoa and New Caledonia.
17. Pluvialis dominica fulva (Gmelin) Siviu; Pacific Golden Plover.
Charadrius fulvus G m elin, 1789, Syst. Nat., /, pt. 2, p. 687; Tahiti.
S pecim en. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (106) ? i imm. 8 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 165 61 21.5 43 B.M.
Colour of bill, dull grey: legs, light grey; iris, dark brown.
Field notes. Several others were seen around Lake Te-Nggano. It has not pre viously been recorded from Rennell Island, though it was known in the Solomons. D istribution. Breeds in northern Siberia and Alaska; winters from India to Australia and Oceania.
18. Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii Lesson Siviu; Large Sand Dotterel.
Charadrius Leschenaultii L esson, 1826, Diet. Sci. Nat., id. Levrault, 42, p. 36; Pondicherry, India.
Sp ecim en. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (34)cJ ad. I Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 130 51 25 35 C.M.
Colour of bill, black; legs, grey; feet, greyish black; iris, dark brown.
Field notes. This is the first record from Rennell, and the present specimen was the only one seen there (TW). Stomach contents, a small marine snail and two small crabs. D istribution. Breeds in Asia and winters from South Africa to Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Australia. 19. Niunenius phai'opus variegatus (Scopoli) Suasuanigai; Whimbrel.
Tantalus variegatus Scopoli, 1786, Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr., fasc. 2, p. 92; Luzon. Numenius phaeopus variegatus K in g h o r n , 1937, Proc. Zool. See. London, (B) 107, p. 180; Rennell Island.
D istribution. Breeds in eastern Siberia; winters in Australia, the Papuan Region, Melanesia, western Polynesia, and Micronesia.
20. Tringa hypoleucos Linnaeus Mungikakongi; Common Sandpiper.
Tringa Hypoleucos L in n a e u s , 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, p. 149; Sweden.
S pecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (45) V imm. 7 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 112 56 24 24 CM. (153) f ad. 24 Nov. 195) Niupani 110 55 26 25 B.M.
Colour of bill, black (No. 45), brown (No. 15.1); legs, olive-green; iris, dark brown (No. 45).
Field notes. The sandpiper has not previously been recorded from Rennell Island. Several specimens were seen round the shores of Lake Te-Nggano (DB); single birds were commonly observed at Lavanggu on the sandy beach of Kanggava Bay (TW). " Stomach contents of No. 45, small crabs and amphipods. D istribution. Breeds from Europe to eastern Asia; winters from Africa to Australia, the Papuan Region, the Solomons, and Santa Gruz Islands.
A bird seen on 9 November on margins of Lake Te-Nggano was identified as Heteroscelus incanus (DB).
21. Sterna sumatrana sumatrana Raffles Gopite; Black-naped Tern.
Sterna sumatrana R a f f l e s , 1822, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, IJ. pt. 2, p. 329; Sumatra. Sterna sumatrana sumatrana M ayr. 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 9; Rennell Island.
Field notes. On 12 November 1951 a small flock of this tern was observed fishing for a short while on the reef at Lavanggu, Kanggava Bay (TW). D istribution. From the Indian Ocean and S.E. Asia to Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, and New Caledonia. 22. Sterna anaethetus nova^ollandiae Stephens r. Bangabanga;“Brown-winged Tern. , ( Sterna novaehollandiae S t e p h e n s , 1826, in S h a w ’s Gen. Z o o l ., 13, p t. l , p . 161; New S o u th Wales.
Specim ens. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads (81)cJad. 3 Nov. 1953 Lake Te-Nggano 256178 38 20 8 B.M. (138) imm. 20 Nov. 1953 - - 196 31 23 B.M. (139) imm. 20 Nov. 1953 - - 200 32 22 B.M.
Colour of bill, black in adult, brownish-black in immature; legs, black in adult, reddish-brown in immature; iris, brown.
Field notes. This seems to be the first record of the Brown-winged Tern from Rennell Island. It breeds on the rocky margins of islets in Lake Te-Nggano. Eggs are laid on rocks without any made nest. An egg examined was pale pinkish-buff, more or less evenly blotched and speckled with umber; dimensions; 45 x31 (DB). T axonom ic notes. The adult male, which is in breeding plumage, closely matches birds from Cape York, Australia, and related localities, which are identified as the race novaehollandiae; the upperparts are very dark. D istribution. East Australia, Fiji, Rennell Island.
23. Thalasseus bergii cristata (Stephens) Gopite; Crested Tern.
Sterna cristata S t e p h e n s , 1826, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., 12, pt. 1, p. 146; China. Sterna bergii cristata M a y r , 1931, Amcr. M u s. Novit., 486, p. 9; Rennell Island.
Field notes. A tern often seen flying over Lake Te-Nggano was identified as this species when a written description was compared with Museum skins (DB). D istribution. From Asia to Australia and eastern Polynesia.
* 24. Anous stolidus pileatus (Scopoli) Ngongo; Common Noddy.
Sterna pileata SCOPOLI, 1786, Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr., fasc. 2, p. 92; Philippines. Anous stolidus pileatus M a y r , 1931, Amer. M u s. Novit., 486, p. 10; Rennell Island.
D istribution. From Madagascar to Australia and eastern Polynesia.
25. Ptilinopus ricbardsii cyanopterus Mayr Hingi; Pink-spotted Fruit Dove.
Ptilinopus rhodostictus cyanopterus M a y r , 1931, Amer. M u s . Novit., 486, p. 10; Rennell Island. Ptilinopus richardsii cyanopterus R ip l e y & B ir c k h e a d , 1942, ibid., 1192, p. 8.
Rennell records: M a y r 1931: 10; D a v id s o n 1934: 192: K in c . h o r n 1937: 178.
S p ecim en s. l.nl Bill Tarsus Gonads (41)(Jad. 3 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 134 77 12.5 :o 1V6 C.M. (51)(Jad. 9N ov. 1951 - 138 75 12 20 C.M. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads J^66)(J ad. 13 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 138 • 76 13 21 8.2 CM. (59) S ad. I Nov. 1953 Hutuna 130 74 12 21 9 B.M. (70) Colour of bill, greenish-yellow (No. 267 in S tc v v ) with dark purple base (No. 36 in Sfcuv); no purple at base in immature; legs, violet-red (No. 21 in S£guy); iris, red-brown, with a very nar row innner ring yellow-brown. Field notes. This beautiful bird is often caught alive and kept as a pet by native girls. Its favourite perches are the lower branches of high, preferably free standing forest trees. Its notes are “whooh-ghoo-ghoo-ghoo”, repeated up to nine times, and for hours on end and with continously falling pitch and decreasing strength (TW). Stomach contents of No. 51, one large red berry. The nest (fig. 1) is built of small twigs loosely woven together to form a platform with slight hoUow for the egg. There is no attempt at a lining for the nest. Nests were reported from 4-6 m high in trees. A single egg clutch was examined. The egg is unmarked and pure white; dimensions 33.5x23 (DB). T axonom ic notes. Dr. A. J. Cain has examined these specimens and in his opinion the race cyanopterus is clearly valid. The Rennell birds are separable from the nominate race on the colour of the belly patch and under tail coverts. The beak also is slightly thicker and larger but not enough to justify the separation of the race on that alone. The colouration of the immature specimen corresponds with the de scription given by Riplev & Birckhead (1942). D istribution. Rennell and Bellona Islands. Fig. 1. Nest of Ptilinopus richardsii cyanopterus Mayr. D. Bradley phot. Fig. 2. Rennellese demonstrating hunting of Pacific Pigeon with captive decoy dove and net. T . W o l f f p h o t. 26. Ducula pacifica pacifica (Gmelin) Ngupe; Pacific Pigeon. Columba pacifica "CMtUs, 1789, Syst. Nat., J, pt. 2, p. 777; Tonga Islands. Ducula pacifica larrali M a y r , 1931, A m e r, Mus. Novit., 486, p. 10; Rennell Island. Ducula pacifica pacifica A m a d o n , 1943, ibid., 1137, p. 10. S pecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (23) Field notes. The natives catch this pigeon, which is often kept as a pet, in the following way. The hunter climbs to a platform in the top of a tree and covers himself with leaves. He then imitates the call of the pigeon, at the same time causing a captive decoy pigeon to flutter about on the end of a string. Wild pigeons whose curiosity makes them approach are then caught in a large triangular net handled by the hunter (fig. 2) or by a noose at the end of a long pole. Previously only head-men were allowed to catch this species which is highly prized as food (TW). The*pigeon was never seen outside the forest, but I do not agree with Haml[N (Ham lin & M ayr 1931, p. 5) when he states that it was confined to the tops of the higher trees. It was often noticed much further down, on the same level as, for in stance, Plilinopus, Macropygia and Geoffroyus. The voice resembles the sound made by vibrating the lips at a high pitch followed by a rather deep “hooooh” (TW). Gonads of three males (not kept) measured 12.7, 14.7, and 15 mm. Stomach contents were always berries or rather big fruits some of which were 30x 15 mm. A nest from the forest was brought to TW. It was hollowed out in a nest of the termite Microcerotermes biroi (Desneux) and measured about 520 x 250 mm and was about 200 mm deep. It contained two nestlings which were still almost naked. They weighed 20 gms each and had a maximum wing spread of about 90 mm. The stomach contents were as follows: Nestling I ; Bones of at least 3 small lizards; 1 dragon-fly (Agrionidae); 1 big locust (Acridiidae); 1 big cicada; 3 rather big beetles (Tenebrionidae and Scarabaeidae); 1 larva of a click beetle (Elateridae); 1 chelicer of a big spider (Avicularioidea). Nestling II: Bones of I -2 small lizards; 2 big cicadas; many unidentifiable remains. Apparently the stomachs did not contain any remnants of the termites from the surrounding nest. On the whole, the insects fed to the nestlings seemed to be large or at any rale of moderate size (TW). T axonom ic notes. These two males have shorter wings than any of the five males previously recorded from Rennell, and especially than males from the rest of the Solomons and Oceania (A m ao o n 1943). There are no appreciable diflTerences in colour. D istribution. Central Pacific, westward to New Caledonia, Santa Cruz, and some small islands in the Solomons: Rennell, Sikaiana (Stewart Is.), Gower, Buena Vista, Three Sisters, Ontong Ja.va, and Ramos. 27. Macropygia mackinlayi arossi Tristram Katongua; Rufous-brown Pheasant Dove. Macropygia arossi Tristram, 1879, Ibis, p. 443; Makira Harbour, San Cristoval. Specim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads (40) ? ad. 3 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 142 149 12 18.5 CM. (26)* (J ad. 29 Oct. 1951 - 11.5 8.2 CM. (27)* ? ad. 29 Oct. 1951 - 11.5 CM. (129) (J ad. 13 Nov. 1951 Hutuna 141 152 12 17 B.M. (51) Sad. 29 Oct. 1953 - 141 151 11.5 18 B.M. (56) imm. 30 Oct. 1953 - 131 (Moult) 12 18 B.M. Colour of bill, black in adult, light reddish in immature; legs, red with a violet tinge (Seguy N o. 62) in adult, brown in immature; iris, yellowish red in adult Temales. Field notes. This is the first record of this species from Rennell although it seems to be a relatively common bird. No. 51 is in process of complete moult; wing and tail feathers are new, and most of the body feathers have been replaced. This apparent post-breeding moult is consistent with No. 56 being immature. 4. Head only kept. ^ Stomach contents, various crushed fruits (TW). Taxonom ic notes. The adult male and the immature specimen (which is probably a male) are much darker ail over than the females (especially No. 40). The present specimens are very similar in colouration and size to a series from Guadal canal and one from Bougainville which are identified as the race arossi Tristram. No. 40 has kindly been compared with the type of troughtoni by Dr. K in gh orn (Sydney) who found it much lighter brown. D istribution. Solomon Islands. 28. Gallicolomba beccarii solomonensis (Ogilvie-Grant) Tu; Grey-throated Ground Dove. Phlogenas solomonensis Ogilvie-Grant, 1888, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 200; Aola, Guadalcanal. Gallicolomba beccarii solomonensis M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 12; Rennell Island. D istribution. Gower, Guadalcanal, San Cristoval, Santa Anna, and Rennell. 29. Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica (Linnaeus) Kangaegangi; Nicobar Pigeon. Columba nicobarica L in n a e u s , 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, /, p. 164; Nicobar Islands. Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica M a y r , 1931, Amer. M u s. Novit., 486, p. 12; Rennell Island. D istribution. From Nicobar Islands eastward over Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and Bismarck Archipelago to Solomon Islands. 30. Lorius chlorocercus Gould Sibingi; Yellow-bibbed Lory. Lorius chlorocercus G o u l d , 1856, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 137; San Cristoval. Lorius chlorocercus M a y r , 1931, Amer. M u s. Novit., 486, p. 13; Rennell Island. D istribution. Eastern Solomon Islands. 31. Micropsitta finschii finschii (Ramsay) Ginei; Pigmy Parrot. Nasiterna Finschii R a m sa y , 1881, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 6, p. 180; San Cristoval. Micropsitta finschii finschii M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 13; Rennell Island. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads (48)(Jad. 9 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 68 34 9 II 3.0 C.M. (41) $ ad. 26 Oct. 1953 Hutuna 63 34 7.5 10 B.M. Colour of bill, greyish black ( Field notes. On Rennell this species seems to prefer more open patches in the forests. One of the birds (No. 48) was taken (and others seen) in a young secondary forest on a former cultivated area (St. Uro. L. 374). The stomach contents of the male nesembled crushed seeds but may have been remnants of fungi (TW). T axonbm ic notes. The female matches closely a specimen in the British Mu seum which is either R am say’s type offinschii from San Cristoval, or at least a para- type. The green of the upperparts is perhaps a little darker, probably due to the fresh ness of the plumage. M ayr (1931) found that Rennell birds belonged to the nominate form, and it seems that there is no doubt about it. D istribution. Southeastern Solomon Islands (Ugi, San Cristoval, and Rennell). 32. Geoffroyiis heteroclitiis hyacintfainas Mayr Gisua; Song Parrot. Geoffroyus helerocUlus hyacinthinus M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 13; Rennell Island. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (25) ? ad. 29 Oct. 1951 Lavanggu 171 91 21 18 C.M. (121)^ ad. II Nov. I953Tingoa 175 98 21.5 19 B.M. Colour of bill, upper mandible yellow, lower black (^ ) or totally black ($); legs, pale grey (J) or greyish green (?); iris, lemon-yellow (,^) or pale yellow (J); eyelid, yellow. Field notes. While jn flight this parrot often sets up a continuous, harsh “ee-ah”. Stomach contents of No. 25, crushed nuts (TW). Taxonom ic notes. The female was found by Dr. M ayr to match the type specimen in the American Museum of Natural History. On the male, however, the Ontario violet does not seem to reach further than to the upper breast; the lower breast, the flanks and the abdomen being pure green. The bend of the wings is also green (darker than the underside) instead of bluish and only a few of the primary- coverts have blue edges. D istribution. Rennell Island. Cacomantis pyrrhophanus pyrrhophanus (Vieillot) is dealt with in the birds of Bellona Island (p. 118). 33. Chalcites lucidus harterti Mayr Tangione; Shining Cuckoo. Chalcites lucidus lucidus M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 4S6, p. 14; Rennell Island (the males). Chalcites lucidus plagosus M a y r , 1931, ibid.; Rennell and Bellona Islands (the females). Chalcites lucidus harterti M a y r , 1932, ibid., 520, p. 8. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Bil.‘ Gonad (83) Colour of bill, black; legs, dark grey; iris, brown. D istribution. Rennell and Bellona Islands. 5. Measured from nostril. The Barn Owl {Tylo alba) was reported to, members of the Whitney Expedition by the natives (M a y r 1945, p. 281). We were also informed of its presence, but it was said to be rare and difficult to get (as in the Solomons). One was seen late in the evening at Lavanggu (TW). It is said to nest in hollow trees, laying a single egg (DB). Its native name is Gugu. 34. Collocalia vanikorensis vanikorensis (Quoy & Gaimard) Kagamua; Vanikoro Swiftlet. Hirundo vanikorensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1830,Voy. “Astralobe” Zool., /, p. 206; Vanikoro Island. S pecim en s. Wing Tail (27) ? 18 Oct. 1953 Hutuna 113 54 B.M. S (26) ? 18 Oct. 1953 - 112 B.M. Colour of bill, black; legs, flesh pink; iris, brown. Field notes. This species does not appear to have been recorded on Rennell before. T axonom ic notes. Probably this species. The tail index is rather greater than the maximum given by M ayr (1937), and the bird is rather darker on the chin and throat than most other specimens examined. D istribution. New Hebrides, Santa Cruz and Solomon Islands. 35. Collocalia spodiopygia ?reichenowi Stresemann Kagamua; White-rumped Swiftlet. Collocalia francica reichenowi Stresemann, 1912, Nov. Zool., p. 350; Guadalcanal. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail (93) juv. 5 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 102 51 B.M. (94) juv. 5 Nov. J953 - 107 49 B.M. Colour of bill, black; legs, white; iris, brown. Field notes. This species has not previously been recorded on Rennell, but has been collected on San Cristoval, Guadalcanal and Kulambangra. T axonom ic notes. Almost certainly this species, although in these young birds the characteristic whitish rump is not fully developed. D istribution. Solomon Islands. 36. Collocalia esculenta desiderata Mayr Pekapeka; Glossy Swiftlet. Collocalia esculenta desiderata M a y r , 1931, Amer. M us. Novit., 486, p. 15; Rennell Island. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Gonad (19)? ad. 20 Oct. 1951 Lavanggu 101 42 C M . (6) ? imm. 15 Oct. 1951 - 47 25 C M . (107) cJ 8 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 95 40 B.M. Wing Tail Gonads (128) 2 ad. 13 Nov. 1953'Hutuna .102 42 enlarged B.M. (*50)? ad. ,22 Nov. 1953 - 99 43 B.M. (149)? 20 Nov. 1953 - 100 43 B.M. (118)? 10 Nov. 1953 Tingoa 101 43 B.M. Colour of bill, black; legs, flesh pink; iris, dark brown.J. Field notes. Several nests were see 1 large crevices in the almost vertical cliffs along the coast, but the bird was also seen in open patches in the forest or in “gardens” with coconuts, far from the coast. This may indicate that it also nests in the fissures of the rugged coral soil which covers most of the island or among the roots or in cavities of large trees, like the other species (TW). Taxonom ic notes. The skins agree with the description. The colouration of the immature specimen is similar to that of the adults. D istribution. Rennell and Bellona Islands. 37. Hemiprocne mystacea ?woo Macropteryx mystacea woodfordiana H a r t e r t , 1896, Novit. Zool., 3, p. 19; Guadalcanal. Hemiprocne mystacea woodfdi-diana M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 17; Rennell Island. Field notes. One specimen was seen on 17 October 1951 at Te-Avamanggu, flying in the dusk together with Collocalia sp. in search of insects (TW). D istribution. Throughout the Solomon Islands. 38. Halcyon sancta sancta Vigors & Horsfield Sacred Kingfisher. Halcyon sancta Vigors & Horsfield, 1827, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 15, p. 206; New South Wales. Rennell (and Bellona) records: M a y r 1931: 18; D a v id s o n 1934: 193. D istribution. Breeds in E. and S. Australia. During migration and in winter from N. Australia to the Solomons, New Guinea, the Moluccas and the Lesser Sunda Islands. 39. Halcyon chloris amoena Mayr Ligo; White-collared Kingfisher. Halcyon chloris amoena M a y r , 1931, Amer. M us. Novit., 486, p. 10; Rennell Island. Rennell (and Bellona) records: M a y r 1931: 10; D a v id s o n 1934: 193. S pecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Gonads (7) Colour of bill, black, white on the underside; legs, purplish grey with dark-brown transverse stripes; iris, light brown or brown. Field notes. Stomach contents of No. 7, land-snails; of No. 36, one land crab (Sesarma) which was totally crushed, only the chelipeds being complete; of No. 54, one social wasp (Polistes) and other insects (TW). No. 36 had its nest in the root of a over-turned tree, lying in a cultivated area. The kingfisher’s nest was hollowed out in the nest of the termite Microcerotermes biroi (Desneux), exactly like the nest of Ducula pacifica (p. 99). It measured about 400 x 320 mm and was about 240 mm deep. It contained three nestlings. They weighed 35 gms each, had a maximum wing spread of about 120 mm and were still almost naked. The stomach contents were as follows: Nestling I: 1 lizard (about 110 mm long) and bones of smaller lizards; wings of 1 large and 2 medium sized locusts (Acridiidae); 1 stick insect; 1 beetle (Tenebrionidae); 1 medium sized spider. - Nestling II: Bones of small lizards; 6 large cicadas (of 2 only the eyes were left); 1 large spider (Nephila). - Nestling III: Bones of small lizards; 1 large cicada (and some smaller); 1 cricket; 1 hawk-moth proboscis. When taken the male had another large Acridiid locust in his bill. As in the case of Ducula it seems that the nestlings do not feed on the termites in the surrounding termite nest; remnants of termites were not found, nor the remains of other small insects (TW). T axonom ic notes. One of the males (No. 58) is somewhat different from the other males being a purer blue above (almost like dark Reckitt’s-blue) on head, primaries and tail and a little more greenish-blue on wing-coverts. Apart from this the specimens agree with the description. D istribution. Rennell and Bellona Islands. 40. Coracina lineata gracilis Mayr Lingovai; Yellow-eyed Greybird. Coracina lineata gracilis Mayr, 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 18; Rennell Island. Rennell (and Bellona) records: M a y r 1931; 18; D a v id s o n 1934: 193; K i n g h o r n 1937: 183. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Bill* Tarsus Gonads (126) cJ ad. 11 Nov. 1953 Tingoa 146 110 14 25 B.M. (127)7 c? ad. 11 Nov. 1953 - 136 108 12.5 25 B.M. (131) ? ad. 16 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 135 (Mouh) 12.5 25 B.M. (131) ?ad. 16 Nov. 1953 - 142 108 13 24 enlarged B.M. (125) imm. 11 Nov. 1953 Tingoa 138 108 12 24 B.M. Colour of bill, black; legs, black; iris, yellow. 6. From anterior margin of nostril; exposed culmen about 4 mm longer. 104 Field notes. The, nest of this spJbies is a very shallow cup, about 75 mm across and 18 mm deep, made of grass and lichen bcfund with spiders’ webs, and lined with grass. The*clutch was reported as two (DB). T axonom ic notes. The skins agree with the description. Some of the specimens are in the early stages of moult. D istribution. Rennell and Bellona Islands. 41. Turdus poliocephalus rennellianus Mayr Ngangango; Island Thrush. Turdus poliocephalus rennellianus M ay r, 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 21; Rennell Island. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Biir Tarsus Gonads (49) Sad. 9 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 97 64 14.5 31 C M . (52)* cjad. 9 Nov. 1951 - 72 9.8 C.M. (43)' o' ad. 3 Nov. 1951 - 15 8.6 C.M. (43) ^ a d . 2 6 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 102 73 14 30 12.5 B.M. S (25) ? ad. 18 Oct. 1953 - 98 B.M. NK(113) $ad. 8 Nov. 1953 - 99 Colour of bill, bright deep yellow; legs, bright deep yellow; iris, dark brown; ring around eye, bright deep yellow. ^ Field notes. This thrush is the only bird which can be seen regularly in the deep jungle thickets on Rennell. It is also common in more open forest; the three specimens taken by T.W. were obtained in a low, open forest on a previously cultivated area. Its alarm note is exactly like that of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) (TW). Stomach contents of No. 49, millipedes and larvae and adult beetles; of Nos. 43 (C.M.) and 52, small snails. I often found its anvil with crushed snail shells, identified by Mr. W. J. E yerdam as Ckloriiis eusioma Pfr. and the endemic species Partula crarrptoni C lench (TW). T axonom ic notes. No. 43 (B.M.) is very dark, almost entirely black, and the specimen has only a very slight trace of cinnamon on the feathers of lower belly and thighs. The preserved tail of No. 52 is as brownish as that of the female; the under tail-coverts have conspicuous whitish tips. Otherwise according to the description. D istribution. Rennell Island. 42. Gerygone flaToIateralis citrina Mayr Lokeloke; Fantail Warbler. Cerygone flavolaleralis citrina M ayr, 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 22; Rennell Island. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (8) cj ad. 17 Oct. 1951 Te-Avamanggu 54 (Moult) 10 19 C.M. (9) 7. From anterior margin of nostril; exposed culmen about 8 mm longer. 8. Spoiled by a dog; only rump and tail left. 9. Head only kept. F.;g. 3. Nest of Gen-gone flavolateralis ritrina Mayr. D. B r a d l e y phot. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus (15)^ ad. 17 Oct. 1951 Te-Avamanggu 52 37 12 18.5 C M . (60) 9 ad. 12 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 54 40 10 17.5 CM. (61) 9 ad. 12 Nov. 1951 - 52 38 10 18 C M . (14) Colour of bill, black; legs, black; iris, yellowish white. Gonads of No. 8, 2.7 mm. Field notes. Like H a m lin ( H a m lin & M ayr 1931) we found these warblers extremely common and very tame. They were abundant both in the coconut groves, the open forest and the foliage of the forest (TW). The voice is a scratchy little song, very similar to that of Acrocephalus scirpaceus, often with a change in the rhythm. It sings in flight. The call note is “seep-seep” and the alarm note is a weak, hoarse "aeh-aeh-aeh” (DB and TW). The stomachs always contained many small beetles, 1-2 mm long. Other identifi able remains were: No. 8, a small lizard and a rather large caterpillar; No. 13, a few flies; No. 14, a rather large cicada, a few Hymenoptera and seeds and two small feathers (probably from the nest-building); No. 16 (C.M.), a few seeds; No. 60, various small insects, for instance larvae of moths (TW). Of the three nests I saw, one was penduline and the other two were built on the side of the support. One was built on a fern frond, and the other two were found in low bushes. The nest (fig. 3) is more or less egg-shaped, about 130 mm long, with the m ‘ entrance at the side, about 1/3 of the l/ay down, and the base about 50 mm below the .entrance. The nest is built of grass and moss and is lined with floss from a bush (DB). T axonom ic notes. The skins of the adults agree with the description. Nos. 14 and 23 are the first juvenile specimens known of this subspecies. As in correiae (M ayr I.e., p. 23) the colour of the immature citrina varies considerably from that of the adult: The head is dusky olive, sides of the head yellowish-green; lores, superciliary stripe, and feathers on lower eyelid bright sulphur-yellow; throat white with a yel lowish tinge, breast with a dusky olive transverse band (as in juvenile correiae), lower breast whitish-yellow, and abdomen sulphur-yellow like the adult. Back, wings, and tail like the adults. D istribution. Rennell Island. 43. Rhipidura rennelliana Mayr Magigape; Rennell Fantail. Rhipidura rennelliana M a y * , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 25; Rennell Island. Rennell records: M a y r 1931: 25; D a v id s o n 1934: 195. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus ( « S (7) ? 15 Oct. 1953 - 75 12 B.M. S (8) ? imm. 16 Oct. 1953 - 73 10 B.M. S (4) ? ad. 15 Oct. 1953 - 82 B.M. N K (50) (J ad. 29 Oct. 1953 - 83 14 NK (60) ? imm. 1 Nov. 1953 - 72 10 NK (73)? 3 Nov. 1953 - 77 11 NK (76)? 3 Nov. 1953 ; - 75 11 NK (72) 2 Nov. 1953 - . 86 11 S (304) ? 20 Aug. 1953 Te-Uhungango 82 85 II 21 M.L. S (350) ? 20 Aug. 1953 - 73 81 11 18 M.L. S (262) ? 20 Aug. 1953 - 82 87 12 20 M.L. Colour of bill, black; legs, brownish black; iris, brown; gonads of No. 2, 3.5 mm, of No. 50, 4 mm. Field notes. Can be attracted very easily to the observer in the bush by making sucking noises on the back of the hand (DB). T axonom ic notes. The specimens agree with the description. No. 62 is moult ing the tail; freshly moulted rectrices have the white tips sharply defined while in worn specimens (No. 2) these tips have almost disappeared. D istribution. Rennell Island. 44. ClytorhjTichus hamlini (Mayr) Wowoviu; Rennell Shrikebill. Pinarolestes hamlini M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 23: Rennell Island. Clytorhynchus hamlini M a y r 1933, ibid., 628, p. 21. Rennell records: M a y r 1931: 23; D a v id s o n 1934: 194; m m . h o k n 1937: 183. S p ecim en s. W^ng Tail Bill'" Tarsus Gonads (50)(J ad. 9 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu . 95 78 20.5 24 6.8 C M . (63)(Jad. 13 Nov. 1951 - 101 82 21.5 23 3.7 C M . (10) V imm. 17 Oct. 1951 Te-Avamanggu 88 77 21.5 23 C.M, S (I8)" •’ 13 Oct. 1951 - 21.5 C.M. (36) cJ ad. 23 Oct. 1953 Hutuna 98 81 20 23.5 7.5 B.M. (42) $ imm. 26 Oct. 1953 - 93 78 21.5 23 B.M. S (2) ? 15 Oct. 1953 - 95 B.M. S (9) ? 16 Oct. 1953 - 92 B.M. S (18) ? 16 Oct. 1953 - 96 B.M. NK (1) imm. 15 Oct. 1953 - 88 S (330) ? 18 Aug. 1953 Lavanggu 92 70 24.5 M.L. Colour of bill, slate-grey, lighter at tip (No. 10 yellow at base); legs, bluish grey: iris, brown. Field notes. The voice is very varied; part of it is a rolling “wowoviu” (like the Rennellese name of the bird) and a quacking sound, followed by a soft whistle which reminds one of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula). Also the alarm note is like that of the Blackbird but is hoarser and lower (TW). Stomach contents of No. 10 were mostly beetles, of No. 50 only locusts. Taxonom ic notes. The skins agree with the description. The two immature females have the larger under-wing coverts washed with buff and like the immature male, mentioned by K in g h o r n (1937, p. 183), they have the superciliary stripe snuff- brown and the lesser wing-coverts greyish brown. The thighs of the immature females are like those of the adults. D istribution. Rennell Island. 45. Myiagra caledonica occidentalis Mayr Tangitangivilage; Broad-billed Flycatcher. Myiagra vanikorensis occidentalis M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 24; Rennell Island. Myiagra caledonica occidentalis M a y r , 1933, ibid., 651, p. 4. S p ecim en s. Wing Tail Tarsus Gonads (120)c? ad. 11 Nov. 1953 Tingoa 73 61 17 5 B.M. (134) ? ad. 18 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 73 63 17 B.M. Following Salomonsen (1934, p. 435) we have measured the bills as follows: Bill I (length of bill from skull); bill II (length of bill from hind margin of nostril); bill III (width of bill at the nostrils). Bill 1 Bill II Bill III Male (No. 120) 17.5 9.5 8 Female (No. 134) 19 10 8.5 Male (Whitney Exp.)” 19 11.5 8 Taxonom ic notes. This is the first female taken of this subspecies. The colour characters are almost indistinguishable from those of the females of the nominate race and m ela n u ra . 10. From anterior margin of nostril. 11. Head only kept. 12. Kindly supplied by Dr. J. F o w l e r . Fig. 4jN est of Pachycephala pectoralis fem%ina jMayr, D. B r a d l e y phot. V-' > ■ ** * As far as the male ig concerned Salomonsen (I.e.) is right in placing occidentalis next to viridinitens. D istribution. Rennell Island. 46. Pachycephala pectoralis feminina Mayr Tatanga; Golden Whistler. 1 Pachycephala feminina M a y r , 1931, Amer. M u s. Novit., 486, p. 25; Rennell Island. Pachycephala pectoralis feminina M a y r , 1932, ibid., 522, p. 5 and 19. Rennell records: M a y r 1931: 25; D a v id s o n 1934: 196. Specim en s. Wing Tail Bill« Tarsus Gonads (5) Colour o f bill, horn {in No. 5 the lower mandible was a little lighter); legs, lead-grcy; iris, dark brown. Field notes. The voice of this species is a loud, melodious “tjuep” (like that of the Eurof>ean Blackbird Turdus merula), followed immediately by a “jeep-jeep-jeep”, repeated quickly about six times. The alarm note is “kraeh-kraeh-kraeh”, fast and hoarse (TW). Stomach contents of Nos. 5, 17, and 58 were insects, especially small beetles. 13. From anterior margin of nostril; exposed culmen about 6 mm longer. The nest (fig. 4) is cup-shaped, about 130 ftm high and 90 mm deep. It is built of green leaves and fine creeper and lined with very fine creeper. The clutch is said to be one (DB). Taxonom ic notes.All specimens including the ad ults have the underside washed with rust-colour. Nos. 122 and 130 were kindly examined by Mr. I. C. J. G a lb r a ith who found that they agreed well with the examples of feminina which he had on loan from the American Museum of Natural History. Both are juveniles and No. 130 has traces of nestlings plumage on cheeks and chin. D istribution. Rennell Island. 47. Aplonis cantoroides cantoroides (Gray) Gapilu gai; Little Starling. Calornis cantoroides G. R. G r a y , 1862, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1861, p. 431; Mysol, western Papuan Islands. Aplonis cantoroides cantoroides M ayr, 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 19; Rennell Island. Specim en s. Wing Tail Bill’* Tarsus Gonads (80) 5 ad. 3 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 103 68 13 21.5 enlarged B.M. (33) (J juv. 22 Oct. 1953 - • 22.5 B.M. Colour of bill, black; legs, black: iris, red. Field notes. One nest was seen on 4 November on an islet in the middle of Lake Te-Nggano. It was in a hole in the coral rock, about 230 mm deep, and was lined with leaves (see B ra d ley 1955, fig. 3). There were four young in the nest; feathers were fairly well developed but the eyes were closed. One was dead (DB). Only one specimen, a male, has been recorded before, and M ayr (I.e.) regarded it as possibly a straggler. T axonom ic notes. This bird does not differ from a series of skins in the British and Copenhagen Museums, apart from the fact that the abdomen and the thighs are not quite so glosSy as in some specimens from Guadalcanal. D istribution. New Guinea Region, Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Is lands. 48. Aplonis feadensis insularis Mayr Gapilu moku; Atoll Starling. Aphnis insularis M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 19; Rennell Island. Aplonis feadensis insularis M a y r , 1945, Birds S.W. Pacific, p. 263. S pecim en s. Wing Tail Bill“ Tarsus Gonads (85)cJ ad. 4 Nov. 1953 Hutuna 108 60 14 26 10 B.M. (61) 4 imm. 1 Nov. 1953 - 101 59 13.5 25.5 B.M. NK(ll4)juv. 8 Nov. 1953 - 100 15 Wing-formula ofcJ ad.: 4 > 5 3 > 2 . Colour of bill, black; legs, black in adult, dark grey in Juvenile; iris, orange-red in adult, brownish- grey in juvenile. 14. From anterior margin of nostril; exposed culmen about 5 mm longer. 15. From anterior margin of nostril; exposed culmen about 4 mm longer. » Field notes. Nests in stumps ofacoconut trees; M ayr (1945) and Cain & G al b r a ith (1956) recorded such nesting sites (oT'Aplonis c. cantoroides, but I found that species nesting in holes in the coral. This species is more common on the mainland round Lake Te-Nggano than A. c. cantoroides which keeps mainly to the islets. One clutch of three eggs examined were a pale blue-green with dark red-brown blotches concentrated at the obtuse end; dimensions; 3 0 / 20 (DB). None of the Aplonis species were ever observed at Lavanggu on the South coast or in the western part of the island (TW). T axonom ic notes. The skins seem to agree with the description. The female is undergoing moult into adult plumage and the head appears rather browner and less glossy than the head of the male. The young bird is nearing completion of moult into first juvenile plumage. D istribution. Rennell and Bellona Islands. 49. Myzomela cardinalis sanfordi Mayr Vagiwo; Cardinal Honey-eater. Myzomela cardinalis sanfordj M a y r , Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 27; Rennell Island. Rennell records: W o o d f o r d 1916: 120; M a y r 1931: 27; D a v id s o n 1934: 196; K i n g h o r n 1937: 184. Specim ens. Wing Tail Bill** Tarsus Gonads (33) 5 ad. 31 Oct. 1951 Lavanggu 70 45 13 22 4.7 C.M. (56) cJ ad. 9 Nov. 1951 - 72 44 13 22 C.M. (59) cJ ad. 12 Nov. 1951 - 71 47 13 21 4.9 C.M. (39) . ad. 2 Nov. 1951 - 62 40 12 21 C.M. (3) S juv. 14 Oct. 1951 - 70 42 12.5 ->') 1.2 C.M. (28) i juv. 31 Oct. 1951 - 70 43 11.5 22 0.5 C.M. (64) ^ juv. 13 Nov. 1951 - 70 42 12.5 21 0.5 C.M. (42) juv. 3 Nov. 1951 - 64 39 12 20 C.M. (37)c? ad. 23 Oct. 1953 Hutuna 71 48 13 22 7 B.M. (31) i ad. 22 Oct. 1953 - 64 40 12 20 B.M. (32) V juv. 22 Oct. 1953 - 63 39 12 20 B.M. S (13) ? ad. 16 Oct. 1953 - 64 B.M. S (24) ? ad. 18 Oct. 1953 - 68 B.M. NK (54) o’ ad. 29 Oct. 1953 - 69 N K (78) cJ juv. 3 Nov. 1953 - 67 N K (79) o'juv. 3 Nov. 1953 - 73 NK (90) juv. 4 Nov. 1953 - 68 S (69)neslling 2 Nov. 1953 - B.M. Colour of bill, black (No. 64 yellow at extreme base); legs, slate-grey to dark erey, sometimes with a greenish tinge; pads of feet, yellow; iris, dark brown. Field notes. This species is very common and is found everywhere, in coconut groves, in secondary forest, in clearings, and in the middle of the forest. Its note is a short and loud, somewhat harsh "djuep". While flying a short, deep twittering is sometimes heard. Alarm note (?), a very high “dee-dee" (TW). 16. From nostril. The food is small insects; besides, the st«}mach contents of No. 28 contained rather large locusts and spiders, and in No. 3 solely ants (TW). One nest examined was very similar to that of Woodfordia superciliosc, but only about half the size. It was built in the fork of a twig, mainly of grass with very little moss, and was lined with fine grass (DB). T axonom ic notes. The specimens agree with the description except that the four adult males have only the anterior edge of forehead, the lores and the chin solid black. The upper and under wing-coverts, axillaries, middle of abdomen, and central tail-feathers are dark earth-brown and the wing-feathers and outer tail- feathers are a little lighter. One of the juvenile males (No. 28) has very little red on top of the head. Juvenile female: Similar to the juvenile male, but back, flanks, and ab domen almost without reddish feather-tips. D istribution. Rennell Island. SO. Zosterops rennelliana Murphy Susuvangu; Rennell White-eye. Zosterops rennelliana M urphy, 1929, Amer. Mus. Novit., 365, p. 10; Rennell Island. S pecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads (47) (J ad. 8 Nov. 1951 Lavanggu 66 43 12 20 7.3 CM. (1) ?ad. 13 Oct. 1951 - 63 40 12.5 18.5 CM. (55)" Field notes. The voice is a pleasant, twittering song, rather strong and resembl ing that of Sylvia atricapilla. It is now and again interspersed by a characteristic “tjenk-tjenk-tjenk” (TW). Stomach contents of No. I. small insects, of No. 47, small seeds and a spider, and of No. 55, locusts (TW The nest (fig. 5) is cup-shaped, very similar to that of Woodfordia superciliosa, 17. Head only kept. Fig. 5 . Nest of Zosterops renne/Iiana Murphy. D. B radle\ phot. - ^ J ' nUji-. ' ■ ' A f V, but about 2/3 the size. The nest is built of dead leaves and moss woven together, and is lined with fine grass. The clutch is said to be two (DB). T axonom ic notes. The skins agree well with the description. The russet line on the outor web of the primaries seems to be somewhat variable, being only present in one of the specimens (No. 87). The juvenile is like the adult. D istribution. Rennell Island. 51. Woodfordia superciltosa North Gaga; Woodford’s White-eye. Woodfordia superciliosa N o r t h , 1906, Victorian Naturalist, 23, p. 104, pi. 8; Rennell Island. Rennell records: N o r t h 1906: 104; M u r p h y 1929: 10; M a y r 1931: 29; D a v id s o n 1934: 198; K i n g h o r n 1937: 184. S pecim en s. Wing Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads (4) (30) $ ad. 20 Oct. 1951 - 78 49 18.5 24 C M . (68)*V ad. 13 Oct. 1951 - 19.5 6.3 CM. (57) ^ ad. 30 Oct. 1953 Hutuna 77 50 24 7 B.M. (86) i ad. 4 Nov. 1953 - 74 46 18 23 B.M. (35) 9 ad. 23 Oct. 1953 - 47 19 23 B.M. (48) $ ad. 29 Oct. 1953 - ’ 78 48 18 23.5 B.M. (62) $ad. 2 Nov. 1953 - 73 47 19 24.5 B.M. (63) (f imm. 2 Nov. 1953 - 77 46 18 22.5 B.M. (71) imm. 2 Nov. 1953 - 74 45 18 23.5 B.M. (82) imm. 4 Nov. 1953 - 74 46 18 23 B.M. (132) imm. 16 Nov. 1953 - 75 47 18 23.5 B.M. S (II) 1 16 Oct. 1953 - 77 21 B.M. S (12) 16 Oct. 1953 - 74 17 B.M. S (19) ? 16 Oct. 1953 - 77 19 B.M. NK (6) 6 Nov. 1953 - 76 20 8 18. Head only kept. i n Wing{ Tail Bill Tarsus Gonads V NIC (115) (J 8 Nov. 1953 Hutuna . 76 21 NK (100) 9 6 Nov. 1953 - 75 20 enlyrged N K (97) $ imm. 6 Nov. 1953 - 74 19 N K (98) $ imm. 6 Nov. 1953 - 74 20 NIC (116) ??imm. 8 Nov. 1953 - 72 19 N K (101) imm. 6 Nov. 1953 - 73 19 N K (99) imm. 6 Nov. 1953 - 74 19 S (229) ? 20 Aug. 1953 Te-Uhungango 73 40 14 23 M.L. S (352A) ? 20 Aug. 1953 - 75 44 17 26 M.L. S (352B) ? 20 Aug. 1953 - 72 43 17 26 M L. Colour of bill, light horn, dark towards the tip; lower mandible lighter than upper; legs, slate-grey with yellowish tinge; iris, brown to light red-brown. Field notes. As already stated by H a m l in , Woodfordia is very common in the Papaya gardens where I often saw them flying in small flocks and landing on over ripe paw-paws. It is one of the most common birds on Rennell. The song is rather soft and has a very quick time. The alarm note is a hoarse “ghae-ghae-ghae” and the call note (?) is a low and rather quickly repeated whistle (TW). Stomach contents of Nos. 4 and 64, green berries of pea-size; of No. 20, small insects (TW). I examined two nests, both the same. The nest (fig. 6) is cup-shaped, about 50-70 mm across and 50 mm deep inside, and is slung between a fork in a twig. It is built of coarse grass and moss, and is lined with fine grass. I also examined one clutch of two eggs. The eggs are plain white, with a faint greenish-blue tint; dimensions: 20x 15, 19xl4(D B ). Fig. 6. Nest of Woodfordia superclliosa North. D. B r a d l e y phot. T axonom ic notes. The skins a^ee with the description given by N o r th (re printed in WcxJDFORD 1916), and amplified by'MuRPHY (1929). The three immature specimens (l32, 71 and 63) appear to be undergoing moult from juvenile to first adult plumage. The moult starts on the head, and the most advanced specimen (132) has completed the head moult and is now moulting on the back and wings. Distribution. Rennell Island.. NUMBER AND RELATIONSHIP OF THE RENNELL BIRDS The skins of 49 species have now been collected on Rennell. In addition, Pelecanus conspicillatus, Sula leucogaster, Tyto alba (?), and Heteroscelus incanus have been observed there. Finally, Cacomantis pyrrhophanus, observed as a migrant on Beilona, almost certainly occurs on Rennell. This gives a total of 54 species. Of these 39 are resident, while the following are stragglers or migrants: Pelecanus conspicillatus Sula sula Pluvialis dominica Fregata ariel Charadrius leschenaulfii Casmerodius alba Numenius phaeopus Plataiea regia Tringa hypoleucos Sterna sumatrana Heteroscelus incanus Thalasseus bergii Cacomantis pyrrhophanus Anous stolidus Halcyon sancta Of these fifteen species the last seven are probably also resident, but none of them have so far been found breeding. Of the 39 species which undoubtedly breed on Rennell Tyto alba must be excluded in this survey, having never been collected and so not identified to subspecies. The remaining 38 species include the following Endemic species and subspecies A. - With the closest relative in the Solomon Islands (N. of Rennell Island): 9. Dupetor flavicollis pallidior 25. PtiUnopus richardsii cyanopterus 32. Geojfroyus heteroclitus hyacintlu'nus 36. Collocalia escuienta desiderata 40. Coracina lineata gracilis 46. Pachycephala pectoralis feminina 48. A plan is feadensis insularis 50. Zosterops rcnneiliana B. - With the closest relative in the Santa Gruz Group, th^ New Hebrides and/or New Caledonia (E. and S.E.): ' I* 1. Podiceps novaehollandiae rennelliana 33. Chalcites lucidus harterti 39. Halcyon Moris amoena 42. Gerygone fiavolateralis citrina 43. Rhipidura rennelliana 44. Clytorhynchus hamlini 45. Myiagra caledonica occidentalis 51. Woodfordia superciliosa C. - With the closest relative in New Guinea and Australia (W. and S.W.): 10. Threskiornis molucca pygmaeus 13. Anas gibberifrons remissa D. - With close relatives both north, east and south: 5. Phalacrocorax melanoleucus brevicauda (P. m. melanoleucus in the Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz, Australia and the New Guinea Region) 41. Turdus poliocephalus rennellianus (subspecies of poliocephaliis in the Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Australia and New Guinea) 49. Myzomela cardinalis sanfordi (subspecies of cardinalis in the Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz, New Hebrides and New Caledonia). This gives a total of 21 endemic species and subspecies. Of these, 8 forms (38 "„) are most closely related to birds from the Solomon Islands and another 8 forms to birds from Santa Cruz - New Hebrides - New Caledonia. Thus, later amendments etc. have not altered the suggestion put forward by Mayr (Hamlin & Mayr 1931) that the Solomons to the north and the eastern-southeastern island groups seem to have contributed equally to the origin of the present endemic avifauna. Non-endemic species and subspecies A. - The same species or subspecies also occurs in the Solomon Islands: 27. Macropygia mackinlayi arossi 28. GaUicolumha beccarii solomonensis 29. Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica 30. Lorius chlorocercus 31. Micropsitta finschii finschii 35. Collocalia spodiopygia reichenowi 37. Hemiprocne mystacea woodfordiana 47. Aplonis cantoroides cantoroides • B. - The same species or subspecies also occurs in Australia (and No. 22 in Fiji): ’ 14. Acc^iter fasciatusfasciatus 22. Sterna anaethetus novaehoUandiae C. - The same species or subspecies is widespread: 4. Sula leucogaster plotus ■ 8. Egret ta sacra sacra 12. Anas superciliosa pelewensis 15. Pandion haliaetus melvillensis 16. Porphyria porphyrio samoensis 26. Ducula pacifica pacifica 34. Collocalia vanikorensis vanikorensis. Of these 17 non-endemic species and subspecies the majority indicate a northern origin or are widespread: 8 forms (47%) occur to the north of Rennell 2 forms (12%) occur to the west and southwest of Rennell 7 forms (41 °^) are widespread. » If the widespread species Sula sula, Fregata ariel, Casmerociius alba. Platalea regia. Sterna sumatrana. Thalassius hergii, and Anous stolidus are found breeding on Rennell, the percentage of the last of the above named groups will increase to 58, i.e. more than half of the non-endemic birds. BIRDS OF BELLONA ISLAND Bellona lies about 30 km N.N.W. of Rennell and is much smaller, only 24 sq. km. Like Rennell it is a raised coral island, and the environment is much the same, apart from the fact that Bellona has no lake and is more fertile. Hamlin & M ayr (1931) noted that it would be interesting to discover what species are found on Rennell and not on Bellona. The Whitney Expedition visited Bellona on 30 May 1930, and the following species were obtained: Accipiter fasciatus fasciatus Cacomantis pvrrhophanus pyrrhophanus (for details see below) Chalcites lucidus harterti Moreover, they noted the following species: Porphyrio porphyrio Ducula pacifica Ptilinopus richardsii Aplonis feadensis Halcyon chloris Coracina lineala The Templeton Crocker Expedition visited'Bellona 19-21 June and again 21 July 1933. The following species were collected (Davidson 1934): • * Egretta sacra sacra Halcyon chloris amoena Halcyon s. sancta Coracina lineala gracilis Laird & Laird (1956) record the following species (16-17 August 1953): Threskiornis molucca (only two seen) Fregata arid (about 200 wheeling over the eastern tip of Bellona) Diana Bradley paid a visit to Bellona 29-30 November 1953. No birds were collected but the following were observed: Egretta sacra Pandion haliaetus Ptilinopus richardsii Halcyon chloris Coracina lineata The natives of Bellona gave her a list of birds which they said were the only spe cies to be found on the island. Apart from eight of the birds listed above it included: The owl (Tyto alba?) or “Gugu” Collocalia esculenta Collocalia vanikorensis The list did not, however, include Porphyrio which according to Ham lin is almost a pest on the island, nor Cacomantis pyrrhophams and Chalcites lucidus which were taken there by the Whitney Expedition. These record's give a total of seven species which were collected (two probably not resident). Ten more species were only seen, and of these two (Threskiornis molucca and Fregata ariel) are perhaps not resident. From Rennell there are now known at least 39 resident species, and possibly up to seven more species, considered as stragglers, do breed there. This means that, according to our present knowledge, only between two fifths and one third of the resident Rennell species are also found on Bellona. Cacomantis pyrrhophanus pyrrhophanus (Vieillot) Fan-tailed Cuckoo. Cuculus pyrrophanus VieiLLOt, 1817, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., 8, p. 234; New South Wales. Cacomantis pyrrhophanus meeki M a y r , 1931, Amer. Mus. Novit., 486, p. 14; Bellona Island. Cacomantis pyrrhophanus pyrrhophanus A m a d o n , 1942, ibid., 1176, p. 16. Outside New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands this species is known only from three specimens from Ysabel in the Solomon Islands (Rothschild & Hartert 1907), one from Guadalcanal (Cain & Galbraith 1956, p. 130) and one from Bellona (M ayr 1931). A m a d o n (1942) suggested that it occurs in the Solomons only as a migrant, having always been taken there in winter. This seems probable, since none of the three expeditions which visited Rennell in the breeding season saw or collected any Fan-tailed Cuckoos. If it does occur regularly on Rennell it must be rare or live in thick cover. SUMMARY Previously 33 species (+ Tyto alba ?) were recorded from Rennell as breeding and seven as non-breeding birds. The Danish and the British Expeditions (1951 and 1953) recorded five more breeding species (Sula leucogasler. Sterna anaethetus, Macropvgia mackinlayi, CoUocalia vanikorensis and Collocalia spodiopygia) and seven more non breeding species (Sula sula, Fregata artel, Casmerodius albus, Fluvialis dominica, Charadrius leschenaultii, Tringa hypoleucos and Heteroscelus incanus) and confirmed that Aplonis cantoroides bred there. Of the fifteen non-breeding species which are now known from Rennell, seven may be found nesting there. The island has 21 endemic species or subspecies of which 38% have their closest relatives on the Solomons and 38 % on Santa Cruz - the New Hebrides - New Cale donia. the remaining 17 breeding, but non-endemic species or subspecies mainly originate from the Solomon Islands (47%) or are widespread (41 %). Somewhat less than half of the species breeding on Rennell are also recorded from the nearby island of Bellona. REFERENCES Amae>on, D., 1943; Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. 52. Notes on some Non-passerine Genera, 3. - Amer. Mus. Novit. 1237 ; 1-22. B rad ley, J. D., 1955: 3. Account and List of Stations of the British Museum (Na tural History) Expedition, 1953. - The Natural History of Rennell Island, British Solomon Islands, 1 : 43-57. Braestrup, F. W., 1956: 9. The significance of the strong “oceanic” affinities of the vertebrate fauna on Rennell Island. - Ibid., 1 : 135-148. Cain, A. J. & I. C. J. Galbraith, 1956; Field Notes on Birds of the Eastern Solo mon Islands. - Ibis, 98 ; 100-134 and 262-295. Davidson, M. E. M cL ella n , 1934: The Templeton Crocker Expedition to Western Polynesian and Melanesian Islands, 1933. No. 16. Notes on the Birds. - Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 21 : 189-198. D ela co u r, j. & E. M ayr, 1945: Notes on the Taxonomy of the Birds of the Philip pines. - Zoologica, 30, 3 : 105-117. Hamlin, H. & E. M ayr, 1931; Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedi tion. XIV. Notes on the geography of Rennell Island and the ecology of its bird life. The relationship and origin of the birds of Rennell Island. - Amer. Mus. Novit., 488 : 1-11. Hogbin, H. Ian, 1933: A Backwater of the Pacific. Natives of Rennell Island. - Burns Philp Mag. Sydney, 5, 2 ; 41. . K inghorn, J. R., 1937: Notes on some Pacific Island Birds. I. - Proc. Zool. Soc. London (B) 107 : 177-184. Laird, M., 1954: Australian Pelicans in the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides. - Notornis, 6, 1 : 11-13. Laird, M. & E. Laird, 1956: 5. Account of a visit to Bellona and Rennell in August, 1953. - The Natural History of Rennell Island, British Solomon Islands, 1 : 65-71. M adsen, H., 1930: Quelques remarques sur la cause pourquoi les grands oiseaux au Sudan planent si haul au milieu de la journee. - Vidensk. Meddel. Dansk Naturh. Foren., 88 : 301-303. M ayr, E., 1931: Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. XIII. A systematic list of the birds of Rennell Island with descriptions of new species and subspecies. - Amer. Mus. Novit., 486 : 1-29, - 1937: Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. XXXIII. Notes on New Guinea Birds I. - Ibid., 915 : 1-19. - 1941: List of New Guinea Birds. - Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York. - 1945 a: Birds of the Southwest Pacific. - New York. - 1945 b: Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition, 55. Notes on the Birds of Northern Melanesia, 1. - Amer. Mus. Novit., 1294 : 1-12. Murphy, R. C., 1929: Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. IX. Zosteropidae from the Solomon Islands. - Amer. Mus. Novit., 365 : 1-11. Ripley, S. D. & H. Birckhead, 1942: Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. 51. On the Fruit Pigeons of the Ptilinopus purpuratus Group. - Ibid., 1192 : 1-14. Rothschild, W. & E. H a r te r t, 1907: Notes on Papuan Birds. - Novit. Zool., 14 : 433-446. Salomonsen, F., 1934: Ueber die Formen von Myiagra caledonica Bonaparte. - Journ. Ornitli. Berlin, 82 : 435-438. W o lff, T., 1955 a: 1. Introduction. - The Natural History of Rennell Island, British Solomon Islands, 1 : 9-31. - 1955 b: 2. Account and List of Stations of the Danish Rennell Expedition, 1951.- Ibid. : 33-41. - 1955c: 4. Rennellese Names of Animals. - Ibid. : 59-63. W oodford, C. M., 1916: Note on a remarkable Honey-eater (Woodfordia supercUi- osa North) from Rennell Island in the Western Pacific. - Ibis, 4, (10) : 118-122, pi. 3.