I 



of the Aru Islands. 477 



Brachyurus Macklottij Temm., B. novce-guinece, Schlegel, Tany- 

 siptera, sp., Eurystomus gularis, Vieill., CarpophagUy n. s., with 

 several small flycatchers, thrushes and shrikes, and that most 

 magnificent of the swallow-tribe, Macropteryx mijstaceus, Less., 

 were what I now obtained, — almost all New Guinea species, or 

 new, and none of them found on the smaller islands. Of the 

 beautiful little " King Bird of Paradise/' I obtained several spe- 

 cimens in perfect plumage and excellent condition. It feeds, I 

 believe, entirely on fruit, frequenting lofty trees in the deep 

 forest, where it is very active, flying from branch to branch, 

 shaking its wings, and expanding its beautiful fan-shaped breast- 

 plumes*. When quite at rest, or feeding, these plumes are closed 

 and concealed beneath the wing. Of the " Great Bird of Para- 

 dise," I have recorded my observations in a separate paper. The 

 Black Cockatoo is a very curious bird, of most disproportionate 

 form and dimensions. Its huge head certainly weighs as much 

 as its whole body. The legs are very long and slender for the 

 tribcj while its wings are large and powerful. Its cry is a shrill 

 whistle, very difibrent from that of most other cockatoos. The 

 bill of the male is larger, and the apex more produced, than in 

 the female ; but the crest-plumes are equally long in both. The 

 Tanysiptera is a Kinghunter, feeding on insects,, worms, &c., 

 which it picks up from the ground in the damp forest. Its coral- 

 red bill is always dirty from this cause, and sometimes so 

 incrusted with mud that the bird seems to have been actually 

 digging for its food. The Syma torotoro, Less., also occurs, but 

 much more rarely, and seems to have very similar habits. Two 

 species of Megapodius are plentiful, and the immense mounds of 

 earth and leaves formed by them are scattered all over the forest. 

 These mounds are generally from 5 to 8 feet high, and from 15 

 to 30 feet in diameter. But the giant of the Aru forests is the 

 Cassowary [Casuarius galeatus, Yieill.) ; it is by no means un- 

 common, and the young are brought in numbers to Dobbo, where 

 they soon become tame, running about the streets, and picking 

 up all sorts of refuse food. When very young, they are striped 

 with broad lines of rich brown and pale buff. This gradually 

 fades into a dull pale brown, and in the old bird changes to black. 

 They sit down to rest on their tibise, and lie down on their breast 

 to sleep -y they are very frolicsome, having mock fights, rolling 

 on their backs, and leaping in a most ridiculous manner with all 

 the antics of a kitten. The same species is said to be found in 

 Ceram, and also in the small island of Gorani, as well as in New 

 Guinea. The following list shows the number of species in each of 

 the principal tribes and families which I have observed in Aru : — • 



* The Paradisea minor was figured by Dr. J. E. Gray from life, with the 

 breast-plumes displayed as above-described, in the ' Illustrations of Indian 

 Zooloj^y,' vol. i. pi. 37- 



