360 Mr. P. L. Sclater on Ornithological 



dash upon a beetle or some other insect, while the beautiful 

 King Bird-of- Paradise {Cicinnurus regius) maybe seen climb- 

 ing on the vines^ displaying the bright tints of its splendid, rich, 

 and varied colours to the bright rays of a tropical sun as it 

 occasionally penetrates the dense foliage of the trees/' 



" A splendid and rare Kingfisher {Halcyon nigrocyanea) 

 and another Kingfisher {Ceyx soUtaria) are heard uttering 

 their piercing notes by a rivulet in some secluded nook. 



''Where the trees are more lofty but not so overgrown 

 by vines, the large and noble Crowned Pigeon {Goura), of 

 the size of a Turkey, is often seen walking majestically about, 

 seeking for the fi'uits and seeds upon which it subsists ; and 

 on the top of the loftiest trees the magnificent Red Bird of 

 Paradise {Paradisea raggiana) is seen displaying under the 

 bright sunshine its rich and beautiful plumage, and endea- 

 vouring to excite the attention of the unadorned female from 

 its elevation, out of the reach of the arrows of the natives and 

 of the gun of the naturalist. But the king of the forest here is 

 the Cassowary, the footprints of which are to be seen in eveiy 

 muddy place, mingled with the hoof-marks of the wild boar. 

 The night at this place is disturbed by a variety of strange 

 noises, and probably still stranger animals; whilst at the 

 early hours of the morning we are awakened by the piercing 

 cries of numbers of Lories and Honey-eating Parrots [Tri- 

 choglossus) passing over our heads, the latter darting along 

 with the rapidity of an arrow.'' 



" The loud whoch-whock emanates from the unmusical and 

 far from celestial voice of the Birds of Paradise ; and the pe- 

 culiar, prolonged, loud and shrill, but mournful whistle of 

 the great Palm Cockatoo [Microglossus aterrimus) and the 

 drum-like noise of the Cassowary are heard. The scenery, if 

 not very bold, is interesting for its novelty ; and it is almost 

 impossible to resist a kind of fascination for the wildness and 

 novelty of our situation." 



" It is difficult to express the feeling of the explorer on 

 anchoring in a new place up a river a little before sunset, and 

 when every object appears before him wonderful, novel, and 

 interesting, and which, on the approach of darkness, assumes 



