OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 37 



The collection made of birds during the trip amounts to about 

 1000 specimens. The avifauna of New Guinea resembles, in a 

 great degree, that of Australia, the same genera, and often the same 

 species, being common to both countries ; but there is, besides, in 

 New Guinea, a distinctive type of birds, which more resembles the 

 fauna of the Dutch Archipelago. Among the most common of 

 the Australian forms in New Guinea is the Bee-eater — Merops 

 ornatus. It is, with us, only a summer visitor. It seems to com 

 mence its annual migration southwards as early as August. 

 Throughout the early part of September, I observed, or heard, 

 scattered flocks of from twelve to twenty of them passing the ship 

 at all hours of the day and night, and making direct for the main 

 land near Cape York. They flew low, and with anything but a 

 steady flight. I imagine their migration is a very slow and painful 

 affair, for it is generally the month of November before they reach 

 their breeding grounds on the Murrumbidgee. 



Another summer visitor to the northern parts of Australia from 

 New Guinea is the Torres Straits pigeon — Myristicivora spilorrhea. 

 We found that it commenced its migration southwards in the 

 month of July ; at that time the low islands of Torres Straits were 

 covered with them, their favourite fruit — the date plum — being 

 then ripe and abundant. It is not, however, till Febniary, I am 

 told, that these birds reach their southern limit, about Port 

 Denison. The well known dollar bird Eurystomus pacificus, is 

 another of our summer birds which seems to winter in New 

 Guinea. The meilipliagidce and flycatchers of New Guinea were 

 mostly of common Australian genera, while the raptores and 

 grallatores were, in many instances, of the same species. Of the 

 truly Papuan Fauna, the most beautiful things we got were king- 

 fishers, pigeons — several species of great beauty, Scansores of 

 brilliant colours, and specimens of Buceros rujicoilis. A most 

 welcome addition to my Australian collection was made by Mr. 

 Masters, at the North Barnard Isles. He procured three speci- 

 mens of the beautiful Piilorhis Victoria, a bird which has never 

 yet been found anywhere else. I have also been able to add very 

 largely to my collection of Australian sea birds, more particularly 

 among the Slernidce. 



