the Exploration of tint FLij River. 'M\7 



the daytime at rest on some high dead tree; and in the even- 

 ing and in the morning it flies about chasing the insects on 

 which it feeds. 



Flycatchers were very scarce; and, indeed, I cannot mention 

 more than the beautiful Monurcha chrysomelus, which I had 

 never collected before, and only saw once from New Guinea''^ 

 in Mr. Stone's collection, and which is found also in the 

 Solomon group. Cumpephaya sloetii is a rare bird in collec- 

 tions; but it seems to be distributed all over New Guinea, as 

 I have found specimens on the Arfak, at Hall Sound, and 

 lately far up the Kly llivcr, and there the most numerous ; but 

 I could not get more than one, which I met with in a native^s 

 garden, feeding on the small berries of a high tree. Along 

 the banks of the river, or on some gravel-flat of the river's 

 bed, when the water was low, I saw another interesting small 

 bird, whicli I discovered in the streams of Mount Arfak, in 

 1872. It is a lively bird, and is often seen giving chase on 

 the wing to insects, on which it lives. It has been named 

 by Salvadori Monachella saxicolima. The Artamas leuco- 

 gaster is an Australian bird, but very common also in the 

 eastern and central part of New Guinea. Its abode is on 

 some old trunk projecting in the river^s bed. There it is 

 often seen waiting for insects, which it catches in flying, not 

 unlike a Swallow. Near to the mouth of the river I found 

 two little gems of the feathered family, Nectarinia frenata 

 and N. aspusia. The first one is an Australian and Papuan 

 bird; the second inhabits all New Guinea and many islands 

 east and west of the same island. Perhaps on account of the 

 flowcrless season, the Meliphagidaj were scarce in number and 

 species ; but it is not improbable that I have found a new 

 genus of this family. Only two species of Eupetes had been 

 known for many years as inhabitants of New Guinea. Lately 

 some new ones have been added — one from the west, the 

 other from the east. The last one is also found in the bush 

 up Fly lliver, and it has been named Eupetes niyrocrisms by 

 Salvadori. Other species of this genus will be found in New 

 Guinea ; so I think it will not be considered absolutely a 



[* The species from New Guinea is distinct — Monarcha melanonotus, 

 Sclater, P. Z. S. 1877, p. IOO.-Edd.] 



