WILITE—A Skeicli of the Lifr «f Sumnvl Whit,: 



iialives "ijoby j;oby."" It is :i small bird, and that which ;i 

 (ollectoi- would ciill a "t'viir". In its actions, habits, and <-all 

 it is a miniature I*. Apoda, and it seems as it were to mimniick 

 the oToat bird, exceptino' in style and colouring of the plumage, 

 wliicli is deep glossy ivd on all the upper surface. The t'ealhei-.s 

 on the front of forehead are of an orange lint, an<i short and 

 hair-like, standing on end. and look like plush, tlie feathers 

 extending beyond the nostrils; the thi-oat and chest are shining 

 purple red. a border of dark green crosses the breast, and the 

 rest of the underplumage is pure white, but the side plumes, 

 i'.nd these feathers are the greatest peculiarity. The side plumes 

 are about an inch and a half long, about six or seven broad 

 feathers, square at the ends, and are of a brown colour, iind 

 have a broad band of g<»lden green near their tijis. The tail is 

 very short, extending no further than the ends of the wings, 

 which are short and round, but the two central tail feathers 

 are lengthened into two thin wires about seven inches long, 

 crossing each other at the end of the tail, and diverging again 

 at the tips. These Vx ires take a spiral turn at theii* extremities, 

 where they are broadly webbed, forming a button like tip to 

 each feather or wire, and are of a deep shining green. Taken 

 all together this bird is very peculiar and beautiful. Besides 

 these, Rirds of Praadise and other species were very numerous 

 in places. Hawks were not plentiful, and I saw but two 

 species. I did not see or hear any owls. Crows were not 

 numerous. Saw a large fruit-crow with glossy-black plumage, 

 beautiful blue eyes, and an enormous bill, this bird was not 

 uncommon, but very shy. Parrots were plentiful, and of seve- 

 ral species, an<i closely allied to those found in Australia, and 

 several of the cockatoos were identical. Amongst the parrot* 

 were some very varied and beautiful birds, the same with the 

 pigeons, espe-ially the fruit pigeons, some of which were most 

 gorgeous birds, and se\eral species are found in Australia as 

 well as the Aru's. K'ijigtishei-s were abundant, and of many 

 species and colours, and several of the Australian species are 

 found amongst them. Two species of swallows were seen — 

 the edible bird-nest swallow and an Australian species. The 

 former is remarkable for its nest, which is half-cup .shaped, 

 and attached to the walls of caves round the coast: it is com- 

 posed of tough semitransparent gelatine, which the native.^ 

 collect and sell in Dobo. to be sent to China as a delicacy. 

 There are scrub turkeys {Tdlagallun) , and Megapodes, both 

 good for food, and the natives catch them in snares, but not 

 very often. The eggs of the Megapode are very large and laid 



