Ornithological Discover]/ in Australia. 81 



Hedley, speaking from practical experience, in the same 

 place states " In tlie heart of a great QueenssL^nd scrub a 

 naturalist could hardly say from his surroundings whether 

 he were in New Guinea or Australia." 



The majority of the Cape York birds occur at Cooktown, 

 400 miles south, and many still live at Cairns, 100 miles 

 farther south. This remark refers to the New Guinea forms 

 occurring at Cape York. Just south of Cairns there is a 

 range of mountains called the Bellcuden Ker, and this range 

 has provided the startling novelties missing from the Cape 

 York district, Thus Prionodura newtoniana and Scenopoeetes 

 dentirostris are extraordinary members of the Bower- Bird 

 family, being unique generic types elsewhere unknown. 

 Oreoscopus gutturalis, another unique generic type, is pro- 

 bably related to Sericornis. Though pi'obably having affinity 

 with New Guinea forms, these are distinctly differentiated 

 and do not occur at Cape York. Of course, in the Bellenden 

 Ker district there also occur many well-marked subspecific 

 forms, showing that it should be considered a distinct and 

 characteristic faunal region. 



The preceding review is necessary to disclose the new 

 discovery that has been made, due to the enthusiasm of 

 Dr. W. Macgillivray and his collector, J. McLennan. 



The latter, when at Cape York collecting for Dr. Macgil- 

 livray, heard from the residents tliere of strange birds living 

 farther south. He informed Dr. Macgillivray, and asked 

 permission to be allowed to explore this locality, which had 

 never been searched by previous collectors. Dr. Macgillivray 

 willingly assented, and I agreed to share the expenses, 

 though I must admit I did not anticipate any very novel 

 results. 



McLennan at once, however, sent two big Parrots, quite 

 new to the Australian fauna, to Dr. Macgillivray, who sent 

 one to me and named the other. These arrived just before 

 I left England for Australia, and wxre included in the 

 Introduction to my ' List of the Birds of Australia,' 

 pp. XXV and xxvi, as Geoffroyus geojfroyi maclennani and 

 Eclectus pectnralis macgitlivrayi, both from the Pascoe River. 



SKR, X. VOL. III. G 



