68 [Aug 



Obs. This very handsome Paradise bird is one of the most valuable and inter- 

 esting of the many contributions to the collection of this Academy, made by Mr. 

 Edward Wilson, of Lydstip house, Pembrokeshire, to whom I have taken the 

 liberty of dedicating it, as a slight acknowledgment of his valuable services to the 

 cause of the zoological sciences in this country. 



This species is a congener of Paradisea magnifica. Lath., but does not resemble 

 that, nor any other known species to an extent sufficient to render special designa- 

 tion necessary. All the species are in the collection of the Academy. 



The specimen now described was obtained by Mr. Wilson in England, but bears 

 no label indicating locality. It is probably not fully adult. 



Pastor nigrocinctus, nobis. 



Form. Specimen now about to be described much mutilated, cranium de- 

 stroyed and skin of the head much injured, nearly the whole of the vfing feathers 

 and legs wanting. Feathers of the hind head somewhat elongated, exposed por- 

 tion of the plumage of the rump and tail coverts filiform, t^iil feathers broad, 

 rather abruptly terminated and slightly acuminated. Aberrant, possibly a 

 Gracula. 



Dimenaions. Total length of skin from tip of bill to end of tail about 8 inches, 

 tail 3 inches. 



Colors. Head (entirely?), broad band completely encircling the middle of the 

 body ; (wings ?) and tail black with a greenish metallic lustre. 



Broad band encircling the anterior third portion of the body, including breast 

 and neck above and below, and another broad band encircling the posterior third 

 portion of the body including abdomen, rump, aud tail coverts, saffron yellow, 

 paler on the under tail coverts. Bill yellow. 



Hah. New Guinea ? 



Ohs. I have seen two specimens only of this bird, one of which is in a museum at 

 Albany; the other is the property of the Academy, and is the specimen now before 

 me. Both were imported by lAx. J. G. Bell, of New York, deservedly well known 

 as a naturalist and taxidermist, by whom the species was first pointed out to me 

 as probably undescribed, and who has also had the kindness to inform me that he 

 received them with skins of Paradise birds. They are mutilated in the same 

 manner as those usually are, and have been subjected to similar methods of pre- 

 servation ; from which facts I have inferred that they may be from New Guinea. 



3. "Buceros Fisttdator, nobis. 



Form. Very similar to that of Buceros Buccinator, Temm., but is much 

 smaller. Specimen now described probably not fully adult, bill nearly simple. 



Comparative Dime7isio7is. 



B. Buccinator. B. Fistulator. 



Total length of skin from tip of bill to end of tail 25 inches, 17 inches. 



Wing, 12 " 9i " 



Tail, lOJ Ih " 



Colors. Very similar to those of Buceros Buccinator, Temm. Lower medial 

 part of breast, abdomen, thighs, under tail coverts, inferior wing coverts, tips of 

 secondary and tertiary quills, and tips of external tail feathers, white, all other 

 parts black with a greenish lustre. 

 Hab. Western Africa. 



