BIRDS - NEW CALEDONIA L. Macmillan Page 48 WAILU RIVER VALLEY (Lower) Wednesday, 3rd May, 1939 Weather: Fine, sun and cloud. Gusty strong ESE wind, clouds 80 to 100%. TYPE OF HABITAT: Narrow river valley with mountains, very steep, rising to from 600 to 1,000 ft. A.S.L. on either side. Hills mostly covered with a low heath scrub about 3 to 4 ft. in height with much bracken fern and odd scattered shrubs a little higher amongst it, and here or there in small pockets, nowhere extensive, a short ten foot scrub dense and close. In valley bottom which varies in width from a few hundred yards to half a mile, there are grass flats given over to grazing cattle, some trees along the river banks fairly tall. Coffee cultivations with their taller shade trees, mostly Eritreenes or other legumenous trees. Native garden lands and village cultivation. In some places the grass because of not being grazed by stock because of the proximity to cultivation is very long, 3 to 4 ft., and forms a harbour for certain species. Guavas and lantana are common in all types of this area. BIRDS: Melagurulus: found to be common in the area at almost sea level. Very shy and will not be lured by calls. Extremely difficult to shoot. Only because of commonness can one get them more or less by accident. This species is more common in the heathlands than elsewhere. SK. No. 43A MEGALURULUS: Megalurulus mariei: Male AD. 1/2 white. SOFT PARTS: Iris, light warm brown; Bill, black, lower mand. slightly lighter in colour; Legs and feet, pale pinkish flesh; Claws, pale horn. SHOT: 8:15 a.m. WGHT: 26.8 gms. SKL: C.O. STM: 1/2 2 earth worms and small insects. MOULT: ABR: W/T: Nil TL:R,2 Body: unders Q. MEASUREMENTS: W:75; TL:93; Culmen to base, 18.8. TR:23.5; Mid. Toe & cl; 20; Hnd.T.&cl.: 18.2