( 185 ) 



27. Cacomantis addendus sp. nov. 



Two evidently fnlly adult birds, both marli:ed as males, from Knlambans:ra, 

 20. 2. and 5. '^. lODl, are apparfutly most nearly allied to the form from New Britain, 

 which Shelley {Cat. B. Brit. Mm. XIX., p. 273) identifies with rnsperatiis of GonM, 

 while Finsch (N^ot. Lei/den Mus. XXII., p. S-'i) unites it with what he calls <lumetonim, 

 and Salvadori {Orn. Pap. I. p. 337) used to term it assimilis. Whether any of 

 these names are correctly to be nsed for the bird inhabitiris; New Britain and 

 Fergnsson (Hartert, Nov. Zool. 180(), p. 343, Mas. Tring), is doubtful, and we 

 suspect that the Australian form differs from that inhabiting New Britain. But, 

 supposing that they are the same, the name of that supposed species is to be 

 iiispemtus, standing first on p. 10 of P.Z.S. 1845. Dr. Finsch has rejected this 

 name apparently on account of the enormous wing measurement ; but it is evident 

 that Gould's measure in the original description (t.c.) is erroneous, from referring to 

 Gould's folio works on the " Birds of Australia." 



Our birds from Kulambangra dift'er from the provisionally so-calleil /iispernf'is 

 from New Britain in tlieir ver}' dark njiperside, which is deep date-colour with a 

 metallic gloss, the more rufous underside, which is shaded with brown (not greyish), 

 leaving only the chin for about 1 cm. grey. The wing measures only 110 and 

 120 mm. "Iris brown, feet light brownish yellow, bill black, underneath slate- 

 colour" (in skin brownish, as if it had been yelli)wish in life !). 



The much stronger bill distinguishes this cuckoo from mcndimis iuid tlirrnodfs. 



How far the different forms of Cacomantis can be considered to lie species or 

 subspecies is a question which requires a long study. 



28. Eurystomus solomonensis Sharpe. 

 A series from Florida Island. The young bird has no blue gnhir patch, and the 

 bill is blackish. It must here be said that the figure on Plate III. in Cat. />'. lirif. 

 Mus. XVII. is (jnite misleading, as the colour of the bird is bluish and not green.* 



29. Halcyon saurophaga Gould. 

 cJ. Kulambangra. 



30. Halcyon tristrami Layard. 



Four from Kulambangra, one from Florida Island. " Iris dark brown, feet 

 slate-colour or dirty blackish. Bill black, about the basal half of lower bill white." 



The intensity of the tawny underparts, supra-loral spot and collar varies much. 

 The sexes stated on our labels do not bear out Dr. Sharpe's statement {Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. XVII., p. 207), that the females are lighter (whitish in the centre) on the 

 abdomen, but the sexing may be erroneous. The specimen from Florida is much 



* I take this opportunity to correct a p.artial mist.akc I made in Ibis 189(1, p. 279. I there called the 

 Eiinjstomux from New Hanoyer Eiirysfminis solnmonrnsix, but the series now received from Florida Island 

 enables me to separate the New Hanover form, which I name 



Eurystomus neohanoveranus sp. nor. 



It differs from K. sahimimr>i.ii.i, which it rcsemldc^s most, in the more uniform and more purplish f-nlar 

 patch, on which the bright shaftdines are much less developed. The blackish forchcarl has a ilislinct 

 purplish tinge, which is not visible in iJ. snhtmnncnsh, the hind neck and mantle are more bluish j;rcenish, 

 less tinged with Idackish brown. Typo: Expedition Bay, New Hanover. 22. :i. IS9T, Caylcy Wcbslcr 

 Coll. (Tring Museum).— Ernst Hartekt, 



