they claiming never to have seen it, though some had occasionally heard its calls, they said, when I mimicked it. The excited much calling behaviour of Chalcites which occurs on Mare at times of increase of numbers could not possibly pass unobserved if it occurred on Uvea, and such would preclude the obscurity under which I found the species on Uvea as regards native knowledge of it. While skinning specimens, invariably word went round and natives gathered to see the rare bird they hardly knew or knew absolutely nothing of. Strangely those who knew a little of it, (especially in the tidal lagoon arm area) called it a big species of Zosterops and say it is always found with a small party of Zosterops. In that area (tidal lagoon) nine times out of ten it is found near parties of Zosterops and elsewhere it seems to be half its time close to Zosterops. Observer thinks that the real reason is not because it parasit es Zosterops but because Zosterops becomes excited at it and is inclined to gather round it and chatter at it. Gerygone, which is plentiful in the mangroves starts the ball rolling and actually attacks Chalcites, Gerygone becomes very excited and gives agitated calls which excite Zosterops which also gather round giving excited calls, apparently not attacking. When Zosterops moves on Chalcites goes on with them to get away from Gerygone and it is noticeable that when alone Zosterops tolerates its presence and does not seem at all excited providing no Gerygone are about. Observer was given the impression that Chalcites was inclined to use a small flock of Zosterops as a screen to cover its approach and movements as several times Gerygone seemed to overlook