Neivs from New Guinea. 359 



say, with due respect, that he seems to place rather too much 

 stress upon the difFerences existing between local forms of the 

 same species, as exhibited in these specimens from the different 

 islands of the Bay of Geelvink. That these islands do con- 

 tain many very well-marked representative forms (such as 

 Goura victorm and Tanysiptera carolince) is certain ; but it by 

 no means follows that there are no species in them identical 

 with those of the mainland of New Guinea. 



Of CAlbertis and his doings, since I last wrote, I have had 

 many accounts from my excellent friend and correspondent 

 Dr. George Bennett, of Sydney. D'Albertis, after accom- 

 panying the expedition of Messrs. MacFarlane and Chester up 

 the Fly River in the ' EUeugowan ' in December last, returned 

 to Sydney to recruit his health. Of his voyage up the Fly 

 River, which was ascended for 150 miles*, he has given a very 

 interesting account in an article published in the ' Sydney 

 Morning Herald,^ from which I extract the following para- 

 graphs. Speaking of the country in the neighbourhood of 

 the highest point reached, he says : — 



" Here the wild nutmeg and the gigantic figtrees are seen 

 in fruit and luxuriance of foliage, attracting the fruit-eating 

 Pigeons [Carpophaga) , the Red Bird of Paradise {Paradisea 

 raggiana), Hornbills {Buceros ruficollis), and other species of 

 frugivorous birds in great numbers. At another part are the 

 Candle-nut tree {Aleurites) and several species of Canary- 

 nut trees [Canarium, on the fruit of which the great Palm 

 Cockatoos {Microglossiis aterrimus) feed.-"' 



" Where the jungle is not so dense a small bamboo grows, 

 and is a place of resort for the Megapodius and Talegalla, 

 being suitable for their food and the construction of their 

 nests. Where the forest is more dense it is difficult to pene- 

 trate, from the entanglement of the vines and the strong- 

 growing chmbing palm {Calamus aush^alis ?), which throws 

 up shoots of great length, covered with sharp spines, and long 

 tendrils, similarly armed, ascending to the tops of the tallest 

 trees. At this place we observe the Racket-tailed King- 

 fisher {Tanysiptera dea), frequently seen darting with a heavy 

 • See Proc. R. Geogr. Soc. Marcli 13th, 187G. 



