262 THE PEOCEEDING8 OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



common in the immediate neighbourhood of Port Moresby, as 



well as inland, and inhabits the open forest country ; breeds in 



hollow boughs, laying 5 eggs, white, 1*65 in. length by 1*33 in 

 breadth. 



47. — Melidora macroehyncha, Less. 



Melidora goldiei, Bamsay. P.L.S. of N.S.W. I. p. 389, 

 (Dec. 27th 1876). 



Melidora collaris, Sharpe. Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. March 1877, 



p. 313 (?). 



Since describing the male of this fine species, I have had an 

 opportunity of examining several other specimens all from the 

 same locality. A female procured by Mr. William Blunden, one 

 of Mr. Groldie's collectors, exhibits slightly different markings to 

 the type of the species described in the Proceedings of the 

 Linnean Society of New South Wales. I do not consider this 

 female quite adult, but it may be thus described. All the upper 

 and under surface similar to the male, having the crown of the 

 head black, each feather tipped with bluish or greenish-ochre ; the 

 spots on the back, and wings of a greenish-ochre of a brighter 

 and more greenish tinge than in the male ; there are a few 

 ochraceous buff on the ear coverts and sides of the neck and 

 throat ; the blue tipped feathers of the back of the head and nape 

 are longer than in the type or than in any of the males. The 

 bill is also broader in some specimens than in others. 



Female. Total length, 10*3 ; wing, 4'7 ; tail, 3 '6 ; tarsus, 0*7 ; 

 bill from forehead, 1*9, from gape, 2 '3, length of hook, 0*23, 

 width opposite nostril, 0*9, width across gape, 1*1 inches 



This Melidora is only found in the dense scrubs, inhabiting 

 such situations as are chosen by Tanysiptera galatea. It pro- 

 cures most of its food on the ground, digging with its bill among 

 the fallen leaves and debris. No information was obtained on its 

 habits or nidification. 



I feel convinced that both Mr. R. B. Sharpe and myself have 

 fallen into error in describing this bird as new ; it will un- 

 doubtedly prove to be the adult male of Melidora macrorhyncliay 



