APPENDIX. 533 



other island ; so you see this is a most curious locahty, com- 

 biniug forms of the East and West of the Archipelago, yet 

 with species peculiar to itself. It also differs from all the other 

 Moluccas in its geological formation, containing iron, coal, 

 copper, and gold, with a glorious forest vegetation, and fine 

 large mountain streams : it is a continent in miniature. The 

 Dutch are working the coals ; and there is a good road to the 

 mines, which gives one easy access to the interior forests." 



At the meeting of the Zoological Society, held on the 22nd 

 March, 1859, Mr. G. R. Gray remarked that "this bird 

 proves to be a new form : it has, springing from the lesser 

 coverts of each wing, two long shafts, both of which are 

 webbed on each side at the apex. It is the possession of 

 these peculiar winged standards that induces me to propose 

 for it the subgeneric appellation of Bemioptera ; and I further 

 add the provisional specific name of wallacei, which appella- 

 tion I think is justly due to Mr. Wallace for the indefatigable 

 energy he has hitherto shown in the advancement of ornitho- 

 logical and entomological knowledge, by visiting localities 

 rarely if ever travelled by naturalists." 



This beautiful bird is very closely allied to Ptilorhis, and on 

 comparing it with the well-known Rifle-bird of Australia, 

 Ptilo7'his paradisea, it will be seen that they are very similar 

 both in their structure and in the disposition of their mark- 

 ings : the same great difiPerence in the outward appearance of 

 the sexes also occurs in both. 



Mr. Wallace informed me in a letter, which I subsequently 

 read at a meeting of the Zoological Society, that " the Sevii- 

 optera frequents the lower trees of the virgin forests, and is 

 almost constantly in motion. It flies from branch to branch 

 and clings to the twigs and even to the vertical smooth trunks 

 almost as easily as a Woodpecker. It continually utters a harsh 

 croaking cry, something between that oi Paradisea ajjoda and 

 the more musical cry of Cicinnurus regius. The males, at 

 short intervals, open and flutter their wings, erect the long 



