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NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE. "^"^^s^fidLS^ 



Vol. XXI. 



OCTOBER 1914. 



No. 4. 



THE BIRDS OF THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, NORTH OF 

 GERMAN NEW GUINEA 



By the Hon. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, F.R.S., PhD., and ERNST HARTERT, Ph.D. 



(Plate X.) 



THE Admiralty Islands consist of one large island and a number of small ones. 

 The gronp lies between latitudes 1° .50' and 3° 10' S., and longitudes I4G° and 

 148'' E. The main island, or Manus, is distant from New Hauover about 130 miles, 

 and from the nearest point of New Guinea about 150 miles. It is oblong, almost 

 square in form, and about 50 miles long and 16 wide. The area is about 550 square 

 'miles, that is, about twice the size of the Isle of Man, or three times that of 

 Middlesex. The main island is mostl}' of small elevation, but contains mountains 

 rising to about 1600 feet. Coral sand rock and trachytic lava seem to compose 

 not only some of the small outlying islands, but also considerable portions of the 

 main isle. 



The climate is extremely damp, and the main island is densely wooded. 

 (From Moseley's Naturalist on the " Challenger^' p. 448, and Joarn. Anthropol. 

 Inst. 1877.) 



Only one collection of birds has hitherto been described from the Admiralty 

 Islands : 



H.M.S. Challenger arrived at Nares Harbonr, on the east part of the north 

 coast, on March 3, 1875, and anchored to the lee of Wild Island or Sori. She left 

 again on March 10. 



Fifty-six specimens were collected during the sojourn, embracing twenty-seven 

 species, of which six were at once described as new. 



Since that time no collection of birds has been made on the Admiralty Islands, 

 probably on account of the hostile character of the natives who inhabit the group. 



Recently one or more settlements have been made on the main island, and so it 

 has become possible to collect there. It has been our wish for many years to 

 possess the species described from the Admiralty Islands, and we also expected 

 some novelties. We have therefore urged our indefatigable collector Mr. Albert S. 

 Meek to make an attemjst at collecting there. In September 1913 Mr. Bleek was 

 ready to undertake this task, but he fell ill and was nnable to do so. Fortunately 

 he was able to put his boat, the Shamrock, under the command of the quarter- 

 master of a German steamer, who had leave to take this job, and so his party, well 

 trained, tried, and instructed, went to the main island, Manus, and collected there 

 for the greater part of the months of September and October 1913. 



The collection made by Meek's party embraces, forty-six species, of which 



20 



