152 SCLATEB ON THE ZOOLOGY OF NEW GUINEA. 



elsewhere ; 14 are common to New Guinea and Australia ; 35 occur 

 in other of the Eastern islands besides New G-uinea, and the re- 

 mainder are birds of wide distribution. The true tendency of this 

 ornithology is perhaps better manifested by the presence of certain 

 genera, such as Ptilotis, Entomophila, TropidorhyncJius, Mimeta, 

 Craeticus, PtilonorhyncJiv^, and Geopelia, which are highly cha- 

 racteristic of the fauna of Australia ; and by the occurrence in 

 Northern Australia of members of the Papuan genera Tanysu 

 ptera, Mcmucodia, PtilorJiis and Microglossa, On the other hand, 

 the presence of species of Buceros, Arachnotliera, Eupetes and 

 Corvus, and of Feltops (a genus of Eurylamidce) in New Gruinea, 

 types which do not extend into Australia, serve to remind us that 

 New Gruinea is somewhat intermediate in the character of its 

 fauna, as in its geographical position, between the Indian and 

 Australian regions. Upwards of 20 generic forms appear, as far 

 as we know, to be quite restricted to Papua and its adjacent 

 islets, namely, Melidora, Xanthomelus, MelanopyrrJius, Ptiladela, 

 Edoliisoma, Feltops, Bectes, Gymnocorvus, Paradisea, Diphyllodes, 

 Cicinnurtis, Lophorina, Parotia, Seleucides,Bpimachus, Paradigalla, 

 Astrapia, Charmosyna, Nasiterna and Entry gon ; but the propriety 

 of the generic isolation of some of these types may be questioned 

 by some naturalists. One very peculiar family, the Paradiseidco, 

 is quite confined to New Guinea and its adjacent islets. I have 

 been particular in ascertaining what species of these remarkable 

 birds have been really met with alive in the localities visited by 

 naturalists. M. Lesson, it appears, procured P. rubra on the 

 island of "Waigiou, and P. Papua^a and Cicinnurus regius at 

 Havre-Dorey ; MM. Miiller and Macklot found at Triton's Bay 

 only the two latter species. M. Lesson likewise met with P. 

 apoda in the Aru islands, and Mr. Wallace, who has recently 

 visited these islands, also found P. apoda and Cicinnurus regius 

 living there. It is much to be hoped that this latter gentleman, 

 who has so successfully commenced his explorations in the Eastern 

 archipelago may carry them to an equally prosperous ter mination 

 and widely extend our present imperfect knowledge of the zoology 

 of these countries. 



Again, New Guinea agrees with Australia in the absence of two 

 families, the Wood-peckers {Picidce) and Pheasants {PJiasianida) , 

 both of which are very fully developed in the region of Indian 

 zoology. It is also observable that hitherto no Fringillidce appear 

 to have been met with in New Guinea, although I have little doubt 

 that, when the zoology is more fully explored, forms connected 



