280 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LTKNEAN SOCIETY 



CRATEROPODID^. 



101. — POMATOSTOMUS ISIDORI, Less. 



These birds were met with in small flocks of from five to ten 

 in number ; they were particularly active and restless in their 

 movements, flying from tree to tree, hopping about the branches, 

 and chasing each other from limb to limb. When feeding, they 

 usually resort to the ground under the trees, their food being 

 insects and their larvae. I have received no information on their 

 nidification ; but in this they will doubtless be found to resemble 

 the Australian members of the genus, all of which build a some- 

 what bulky flask-shaped nest of sticks, and lays five to eight eggs 

 of a sienna-grey or brown, with darker hair-lines and marblings 

 over the whole surface. 



The eggs of all the Australian species have the peculiarity of 

 being easily washed white ; the coloring matter, which appears 

 to be confined to the surface of the shell, is readily removed with 



little water by gently rubbing. This peculiarity I have also 

 observed in the eggs of the Bronze Cuckoos (Lamjprococcyx) . 



LANIIDiE. 



102. — ReCTES FERRUGINEA, B]p. 



These birds traverse the scrubs among the larger branches of 

 the trees, in flocks of ten to fifteen in number, searching for 

 insects, which are their principal food. They were by no means 

 rare, and frequently accompanied by a pair or more of the black 

 fork-tailed fly-catcher, Dicrurus carhonarius. 



103. — COLLURICINCLA BRUNNEA, Gould, P.Z.S., pt. VIII, p. 164; 



id. Handbook Bds. Aust. I, p. 223 ; Sharpe t c. jp. 499. 

 This is apparently a very common bird in the neighbourhood 

 of Port Moresby and further inland. The New Guinea birds of 

 this species are of a lighter and more ashy tint than those I have 

 received from North Australia. 



104. — COLLURICINCLA MEGARHTNCHA. 



Musicapa megarhyncha, Quoy and Gaim., voy. de V Astrolabe, 

 pi. 3, fig. 1. Ois. p. 172. 



This species was obtained in the dense scrubs on the Lalokj 



