some new Paradise-birds. 247 



It is especially the form of tlic tail that gives us the 

 opportunity of separating this new species generically^ inas- 

 much as the subdivision of the Paradise-birds into genera has 

 now-a-days been carried to so great an extent, whether 

 rightly or wrongly we need not at the present moment 

 inquire. The webs of the two central tail-feathers (about 

 10 centimetres broad and 64 long) are arched upwards 

 towards one another so as to form a sort of open channel ; 

 towards the ends their edges approach so near one another 

 as to constitute a broadened pipe ; the webs of the lateral 

 feathers are similarly turned up^ but to a less extent. While 

 the tail of Astrajna nigra is regularly graduated, in that of 

 Astrarchia the graduation is irregular. But besides this, the 

 deviations from Astrapia are so numerous that the generic 

 separation can be well substantiated. 



In Astrarchia stephanice the lengthened feathers of the 

 chin are wanting, and the feathers of the neck-shield are 

 not curved upwards, but smooth and recumbent. Besides, 

 in Astrarchia the large lateral head-plumes are wanting, 

 although the corresponding feathers are somewhat elongated. 

 Again, the metallic band from the eye down the neck to the 

 breast and the green band at the back of the neck are both 

 absent, besides which there are other minor differences in 

 coloration, which it is not necessary to enumerate. It need 

 only be remarked that the colour of the middle tail-feathers 

 is more blue in Astrapia nigra than in Astrarchia stc- 

 phanicE. 



We have only the male of this species, which has been 

 named by Finsch after the Archduchess Stephanie, Crown- 

 Princess of Austria. 



8. Epimachus meyeri, Finsch, sp. nov. 



Fern. Supra brunnescenti-olivacea ; capitis plumis obscure 

 fuscis, rufo marginatis, nucha rufescente ; loris et capitis 

 lateribus nigrescentibus, clarius variegatis ; gutture 

 iisdem coloribus, sed subtiliter transfasciolato ; coi-pore 

 subtus et subalaribus fasciis alternis nigrescentibus et 

 brunnescenti-albidis ornatis; alls dorso concoloribus, 

 subtus fuscis ; Cauda olivacea, supra vix brunnescente 



