( 603 ) 



We have compared this fine series with the type of S. arfakiana nouhwjsi and 

 find it to agree perfectly. The young bird (No. 5349) is darker and ranch more 

 rufescent on the nnderside. 



Comparing all the Sericornis of this gronp, we come to the conclnsion that 

 three forms can be distinguished : 



Sericornis arfakiana arfakiana, Salvad. 



Arfak, hills near Humboldt Bay, Karon Mountains. 



Besides one of the types (specimen c of the list on p. 408 in Salvadori's Orn. 

 Pap. ii.), we have examined a ? from Karon in the Leyden Museum, and an 

 adult and two young birds from " Mt. Moari" near Humboldt Bay, collected by 

 J. M. Unmas. 



The young birds are more strikingly distinct from S. a. nouhuysi than tlie old 

 ones, being more yellowish, less rufescent, than the young of S. a. nouhuysi. The 

 adult birds have distinct pale edges to the greater upper wing-coverts. 



' Sericornis arfakiana nouhuysi Oort. 



Hellwig Mountains, Mt. Goliath. 



Differs from -S'. a. arfakiana in being much more rufescent above as well as 

 underneath, which is especially striking in the yonng birds. There are no distinct 

 pale edges to the greater upper wing-coverts. This form is larger than S. a. 

 arfakiana, but not much. Wings of the males 64-67, of the females .59-.'j-62 mm., 

 allowing for one probably erroneously sexed specimen. 



1 Sericornis arfakiana oorti subsp. nov. 



A series of specimens from the Kotoi district, Mt. Cameron, Eafa, Aroa River, 

 Angabunga River, and Bihagi differ again from S. a. arfakiana in being paler 

 olive, and more yellowish underneath, the feathers having distinct yellow edges, 

 producing a somewhat streaked appearance. The young birds are much more 

 rnf'escent, thus resembling the adult — but not the young — of S. a. arfakiana, except 

 in size. The wings measure about 60-61 in the females, and run np to 66 in the 

 males. Type of .S'. a. oorti S, No. a 2464, A. S. Meek Coll., Bihagi, head of 

 Mambare River, 19. ii. 1906, in the Tring Museum. 



The specimens from British New Guinea were formerly enumerated by us as 

 " Sericornis arfakiana" {Noc. Zool. 1903, p. 228 ; 1907, p. 467). 



We have also received a skin from the Rawlinson Mountains, 1250 m. high, 

 shot on October 10, 1911. It appears to be slightly more rufescent than S. a. 

 arfakiana, but as it is in bad condition it is not easy to say whether it belongs to 

 the latter or to & a. nouhuysi. With this bird were sent the nest and two broken 



egg«- 



The nest is placed in two big rolled-up leaves, like a tailor-bird's nest, though 

 no stitches are noticeable. The nest itself is composed of ferns, moss, and dry 

 leaves, lined with a few feathers. The two eggs are of a brownish cream-colour 

 with a pink tinge, and with a brown zone at the large end. They measure 22'8 x 

 15-7, and 21"6 x 15-<i mm. 



^,- 143. Sericornis meeki sji. nov. 

 ? ad. Upper surface greenish dlive, browner on the head and brighter, more 

 greenish on the runi|), but uiijjer tail-coverts a shade more rufescent, lesser upju'r 

 wing-coverts with more greenish edges, larger series with paler tips. Quills dark 



