BIRDS - NEW CALEDONIA L. Macmillan Page 45 regularly and evenly distributed. Coracina: Not very abundant but not uncommon, a few to be seen and heard about. Does not seem to favour the heath-lands or more open areas but one is generally to be found about the taller trees of coffee cultivation. Megalurulus: Exceedingly abundant. Is very common in the heath lands and in the long grass areas and brackern fern country. This at sea level or up the surrounding mountains. Is exceedingly shy and wary and keeps mostly under cover from the sky. Seldom more than three feet from the ground and I doubt if ever goes above ten feet. In heath lands or bracken-fern country it goes two or more birds to the acre and though often heard is seldom seen. Any shot are more or less accidental appearances which one has to snap up as the opportunity occurs. It hops along like a wren with the tail generally erect. The conspicuous white eye brow gives the bird away very quickly when in movement. The flight is distinctive as the after part of the bird seems to be weighted down by the tail and the flight is more like a flutter as if the bird had difficulty in keeping altitude, wing beats are rapid, direction is a series of wide bottomed U with bottoms and tops level but close together somewhat thus, , . Calls are two one being hard to describe but the other, an alarm call and the most frequently uttered is very reminiscent of the call of Turdus when alarmed but is not so long sustained or as loud. So far the best way of collecting has been to work up dry storm channels and thus be able to see under the underbrush cover and see the bird moving, this entails close shooting and some damage but the species is so common that an odd one shot damaged too badly for skinning is of little consequence. Should be able to get a fine large series with any luck and use surplus for exchange purposes. Gerygone: Seems