363 



ther, whicli seeras to be Carpophaga Zo'é Less., ratlier 

 scarce; while CarpopJiaga alha L. is common everywhere. 

 Of the' smaller and more beautiful species there are also 

 three, Piilojiojms perlatus Temm., Piilonojms pulchel- 

 las Temm. and PtUonojms 'purpuratus Latli. These 

 birds are all verv difficult to obtain in o;ood condi- 

 tion, because their feathers fall so readily; but they 

 are alwavs acceptable, as their flesh (especially that of 

 the smaller species) is perhaps eqnal in delicacy and 

 flavour to that of any birds whatever. 



In one or two excursions whicli I made to the ma in- 

 land, immediately opposite Dobbo, I obtained the two 

 beautiiil flycatchers , Arses telescophthahna Garn. ^' Less., 

 and Arses clirysomela G. 8f L., as well as some 

 species of Ptilotis and other small birds new to 

 me. It was not, however, until 1 was regularly esta- 

 blished in the central forests of the large island that 

 I obtained a true insight into the ornithological fau- 

 na of Aru. Then a host of new species burst upon 

 me^ revealing the richness of the country, and its in- 

 timate connexion with New Guinea. Paradisea apocla 

 L., Paradisea rer/ia, L. , Microglossus aterrimus Wagl., 

 BracliT/urus Ifac/cloiii Temm. , Bracliyuriis Novm-Gai- 

 neae Schlegel, Tanysiptera sp., JEui'i/stomiis (jularisYÏQiW., 

 Carpopliaga n. s., with several small flycatchers, thrus- 

 hes and shrikes, and that most magniiicent of the 

 swallow-tribe, Macropteryx mystaceus Less., were what 

 I now obtained, — almost all New Guinea species, or 

 new, and none of them found on the smaller islands. 

 Of the beautiful little // King Bird of Paradise," I ob- 

 tained several specimens in perfect })lumage and ex- 

 cellent condition. It feeds, I bclicve, cntirely on fruit. 



