368 M. L. D^Albertis on Birds collected during 



Malayan form. Only two Pittas^ P. niackloti and P. novae- 

 guinea, have been yet recorded among the Papuan birds. 

 Now I may add a third one, which I found for the first time 

 in New Guinea, and killed at Kataw River ; but it inhabit 

 also Cape York, and is plentiful on many of the Torres-Straits 

 islands ; that is, Pitta assimilis. So out of the three Pittas 

 two are found in Australia also. 



Large flocks of a Calornis were seen on the Alice river 

 hunting after an insect, probably of the Libellula tribe, which 

 was so abundant as to cover almost the surface o£ the river 

 from bank to bank for many miles. They were so plentiful 

 that when seen flying about a little above the water they con- 

 veyed to the mind the recollection of a heavy fall of snow. 

 I could not identify this bird. Many other birds were en- 

 gaged in a similar chase ; and I remember a Graucalus, the 

 Gracula dumonti, the Merops ornatus, and a Eurystomus, 

 probably E. crassirostris. Gracula dumontii is, too, a common 

 bird all over New Guinea ; but I may mention that I never 

 saw it so plentiful as on the upper part of Fly River. 



Another Grakle, which I consider to be new to science, 

 was very scarce, and only four specimens were seen, and two 

 killed. Its description is as follows : — Male. Head, neck, 

 and breast rich orange golden colour ; throat and sides of 

 the head dark blackish green ; abdomen, above and below, 

 hlack, each feather margined with dark shining green; rump 

 and tail-coverts deep golden orange ; belly yellow ; under tail- 

 coverts white, tipped with light yellow ; wings and tail black ; 

 primaries white-spotted; bill, eyes, and feet yellow. The 

 female is very similar to the male. I name this bird in 

 honour of the Hon. John Robertson, Colonial Secretary of 

 New South Wales, Mino robertsoni* . 



Manucodia keraudreni is found in Australia and New 

 Guinea. The specimens from Cape York, once named M. 

 gouldi, have been recently regarded as identical ; but I have 

 before me specimens from New Guinea and Cape York, and 

 they are at once distinguishable from each other. The speci- 



[* Salvador! identifies this uew species with Melanojjyrrhus orientalis, 

 i.e. Gracula anais orientalis of Schlegel, Bijdr. iv. p. 52 (Anu. Mus. Civ. 

 Genova, v. p. 12). — Edd.] 



