NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 451 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF BIRD OF PARADISE OF THE 

 GENUS PTILORIS, IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ACADEMY. 



BY J. A. OGDEN, M.D., PH.D. 



Ptiloris Wilsonii. Plate 25. 



Top of head, occiput, throat, upper part of the breast, extend- 

 ing around beneath the eyes, of a shining, metallic, purplish-green 

 color ; the lower margin of the metallic colored feathers of the 

 breast is marked with a line of purple and light-green feathers, the 

 latter blending with the purple colored feathers of the abdomen ; 

 entire upper parts velvety-green, with purple reflections ; the two 

 central tail feathers metallic green, the rest black with the outer 

 margin shaded with purple ; the wings black, with the outer bor- 

 der purplish. 



Total length (mounted specimen), 14" ; bill 2" 3'" ; wing 5" 

 4'" ; tail 4" 2'" ; tarsus 1" i'" ; middle toe 1" V". 



Hab. New Guinea. 



This species is larger than either P. magnificus or P. Albertii. 

 The metallic colored feathers are larger, and extend over a greater 

 surface of the throat and breast ; the lower border is rounded. 

 The tarsi are shorter, and the toes not so stout as in the above 

 two species. 



This constitutes the fifth species of the genus, and 1 have named 

 it in honor of the donor and esteemed naturalist. Dr. T. B. Wilson. 



