248 Mr. P. L. Sclater on Recent 



also of Pitta maforeana, though I stayed a very short time at 

 Mafor. Sei'icutus aureus I killed on the same fig-tree near 

 Atara where D'Albertis obtained the greater part of his 

 birds. It has much the same habits as a bird of Puradisea, 

 lives on fruits, especially on figs; one does not find more 

 than two or three individuals together, usually only one male 

 and one female ; the young males and females are very dif- 

 ferent in colour ; the iris is clear straw-yellow. It is a very 

 lively and shy bird ; when the male is killed the female and 

 another, perhaps a young male, return again to their food on 

 the same tree, and then are seen no more. Although it is 

 found at an elevation of 3000 feet or more, it seems more 

 abundant in the hills near the sea, but is always most difficult 

 to find, because in each of the localities which it frequents 

 there are only a few pairs. Its song, according to my 

 hunters, has much resemblance to the ' zigolio ' of the 

 Nectarinias, but rather more strong and sonorous. Only the 

 crest of feathers on the head is erectile. The Arfaks call it 

 ' Komeida.' I have a great series of specimens of Machcero- 

 rhynchus. There is also a violet-coloured species^. The 

 Monachella saxicolina is abundant by the torrents of Arfak, 

 but only in those near the sea. I have, however, only a pair 

 of specimens. I have the three kinds of Todopsis ; of T. 

 grayi there is a single one in Bruijn's collection. Of the 

 genera Rhipidura and Monarcha I think I want several 

 species ; but I have got together a fine series. At Kordo I 

 obtained Monarcha brehmi. The genera Pachycephala and 

 Campephaga are very richly represented. Artamus maximus 

 is very common from 3000 to 5000 feet, and has the same 

 habits as A. papuensis ; it is enough to say that it flies like a 

 Swallow, and sits on the branches of dead trees, especially in 

 the middle of plantations. I have only got one or two 

 specimens, because, through some fatality, I missed all the 

 shots I fired at this bird. I do not believe that Cracticus 

 crassirostris is a good species ; but you will be able to judge 

 better from the various specimens you will have to examine. 

 Gymnocorvus senex is a very common bird, and goes in flocks 

 * Probably this is a new species. — T. S. 



