White-breasted mesite White-breasted mesite The white-breasted mesite ("Mesitornis variegatus") is a ground-dwelling bird endemic to Madagascar. One of three species in the mesite family, Mesitornithidae, it is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has a small population and is restricted to five sites in the north and west of the island, and one in the east. The white-breasted mesite is a medium-sized terrestrial bird which is often described as rail-like (a family with which the mesites are sometimes placed). The species has a white face with distinctive facial markings (a white supercilium and dark malar
Normanby Island (Papua New Guinea) east coast. The largest settlement, and district headquarters, is Esa’ala at the island’s northern end. In 1873, the island was visited by British Captain John Moresby, commanding "HMS Basilisk", who named it after the Marquess of Normanby, George Augustus Constantine Phipps, a governor of Queensland, Australia. Once known to produce gold, Normanby now exports copra and some timber. Recent discoveries of gold deposits are beginning to be exploited. Normanby Island (Papua New Guinea) Normanby Island is a volcanic , L-shaped island, the southern most island in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands group. It is part of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.