SOME BIRD LIFE IN BRITISH PAPUA. 417 



in addition to what lias already been stated, they consist of upward 

 and downward motions, as if, while pressing against the Avind, 

 advantage is taken when a lull occurs (see Fig. A) ; and, secondly, 

 with head still to windward, allowing itself to fall back a few yards 

 as though for a " breather." but still maintaining a slight upward 

 tendencj^ during the progress (see Fig. B). Then repetitions ad lib. 

 (See diagram.) 



Their rate of speed when with the wind ^Aould be quite 00 to TO 

 miles an hour, if not more. 



Mr. Louis Beck, writing in the Pall Mall Gazette, mentions the 

 frigate bird as the swiftest of all sea birds, and in some of the equa- 

 torial isles of the Pacific it is used as a letter carrier. Taken from 

 the nest before it can fly, it is hand fed on a fish diet l)y the natives, 

 and in the course of a few months becomes so tame that it can be 

 liberated during the day and will return to its perch at sunset. In 

 the records of the London Missionary Society mention is made of 

 the letter-carrying frigate l)irds of the Ellice group (northwest of 

 Samoa), and that writer, who resided in those islands for three 

 years, had frequent opportunities of Avitnessing their performances. 



In the northern division the folloAving birds have been recorded 

 as existing there, and it w^ould be interesting at a future date to 

 learn of their respective peculiarities. They are the dollar bird 

 (Ein'i/.sfomifs), New Guinea pheasant, weaver bird, and flycatcher 

 {Mo)uich('Ua mucJh'rkina). Brilliantly hued finches, Avagtails, and 

 rac(}uet-tailed kingfishers {Tanij.slptcni /i/lcroi'hyiuha) also excite 

 curiosity. AVhite-headed sea hawks {IlaT/d-stiir girrenera) are not 

 numerous, Init are sufficient to make the owners of chickens very 

 wrathful, owing to their de2:)re(lati()ns in the poultry run. 



It may not. by the way, l)e out of place to devote a few lines to the 

 native breed of domestic fowls. The male is a very pretty bird, very 

 like a gamecoclv, witli a long {pendant on eithei- side of the tail. A 

 pure AA'hite variety is also bred, and is highly prized 1)V tlie Papuans. 

 Query: "Where did these birds originally come from? All explana- 

 tions are vague on the matter. 



In the islands and several parts of the mainland curlews, golden 

 plovers, and herons, boti; black and white, are free agents, and at as 

 high an altitude as 0,000 feet on the main range the rare orange- 

 crested bower bird {Amhhjomis suhdlaris) has its playground. 



Kespecting the ''death bird" of New (Juinea, too much credence 

 should not l)e indulged in until confirmed. Native myths aiv numer- 

 ous and extraordinary, even precise in details. The moon, we are 

 impressively told by some Papuans, w^as originally found in the soil 

 by one of their numl)er, who. in attempting (o carry the luminary to 

 his village barely escaped with his life through not relinquishing the 

 prize as it ascended heavenward. 

 SM 1904 27 



