412 Dr. A. B. Meyer on Birds 



dermal papillae which at a later period of the growth of the 

 bird form the small flat scuta of the integument of the heel. 



This structure has a distinct function at this early age. 

 In moving about in the nest-hole, particularly when wishing 

 to move to the edge of the cavity, the young bird does not 

 use the toes, but pushes itself forward by means of the rough 

 surface of this heel-pad. 



It would be interesting to ascertain whether a similar 

 structure is found in young Woodpeckers of the same age. 



XLI. — Notes on Birds from the Papuan Region, with De- 

 scriptions of some new Species. By A. B. Meyer, M.D., 

 C.M.Z.S., Director of the Royal Zoological Museum of 

 Dresden. 



(Plate XII.) 



The Dresden Museum has recently received, from several 

 sources and from different parts of New Guinea and New 

 Britain, a series of birds, on which I beg leave to offer the 

 following remarks. I do not propose to give a complete list 

 of the species, but only to mention such as present something 

 new as regards their countries, their native names, their 

 plumages, or their specific differences. In their nomenclature 

 I follow Salvadori's standard work on Papuan ornithology 

 as nearly as possible. 



1. Cyclopsittacus diophthalmus (H. et J.). 

 Constantine Harbour, N.E. New Guinea, March 1887 



(Kubary). Native name " Aul kanger/ 5 



Eyes dark brown ; bill " black, at the base greyish blue ; 

 feet light grey, with greenish shades." 



2. Cyclopsittacus edwardsi, Oust. 



A female ; New Guinea, Constantine Harbour or its neigh- 

 bourhood {Kubary). 



Oustalet described the male of this bird in the year 1885 

 (see Ann. Sc. Nat. 7 ser. vol. xix. art. 3 ; cf. Salvadori, Orn. 

 Pap. Spl. i. p. 33), but the female has remained unknown, 

 though Mr. Oustalet has recently written to me that he has 

 received examples of this sex. 



