476 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Natural History 



In the forest which everywhere covers the islands, sombre and 

 lofty as on the banks of the Amazon, a different set of birds is 

 met with, the two most abundant being both TsVw Guinea species, 

 Cracticus varius, Gm., sp., and Phony gama viridis, L. The former 

 has a loud and very varied note ; sometimes a fine musical 

 whistle ; at others (principally when alarmed), a harsh, toad-like 

 croak. It is very active, flying about from tree to tree and from 

 bush to bush, seeking after insects, or feeding on small fruits. 

 It is a long time before one can recognize its various cries for 

 those of one and the same bird. The Plinnygama is a very 

 powerful and active bird ; its legs are particularly strong, and it 

 clings suspended to the smaller branches, while devouring the 

 fruits on which alone it appears to feed. Its affinities seem to 

 be with the Paradiseas rather than with the Garrulidse. Next to 

 these, two species of Dacelo are most frequently met with, and 

 their loud monotonous cry, very much resembling the bark of a 

 dog, most frequently heard. A large crow, with a fine sky-blue 

 iris, and hoarse cawing cry, is also not uncommon ; and now I 

 have mentioned all the birds, except parrots and pigeons, that 

 are common enough to be at all characteristic of the forest near 

 Dobbo. For noise, however, the Psittacidre surpass all others, 

 and the Yellow-crested Cockatoo {Plyctolophus galerita) is an ab- 

 solute nuisance. Instead of flying away when alarmed, as other 

 birds do, it circuits round and round from one tree to another, 

 keeping up such a grating, creaking, tympanum-splitting scream, 

 as to oblige one to retire as soon as possible to a distance. Far 

 more agreeable is the low cooing of the pigeons, several fine 

 species of which are not uncommon. Carpojohaga pinon, Q. & G,, 

 is plentiful, and another, which seems to be C. Zo'e, Less., rather 

 scarce ; while C. alba, L., is common everywhere. Of the smaller 

 and more beautiful species there are also three, Ptilonopus 

 perlatus, Temm., P. pulchellus, Temm., and P. purpuratas, Latli. 

 These birds are all very difficult to obtain in good condition, 

 because their feathers fall so readily ; but they are always accept- 

 able, as their flesh (especially that of the smaller species) is per- 

 haps equal in delicacy and flavour to that of any birds whatever. 



In one or two excursions which I made to the mainland, im- 

 mediately opposite Dobbo, I obtained the two beautiful fly- 

 catchers, .^?-ses telescophthalma, Garn.SiIjess., and^. chrysomela, 

 G. & L,, as well as some species of Ptilotis and other small 

 birds new to me. It was not, however, until I was regularly 

 established in the central forests of the large island that I ob- 

 tained a true insight into the ornithological fauna of Aru. Then 

 a host of new species burst upon me, revealing the richness of 

 the country, and its intimate connexion with New Guinea. 

 Paradisea apnda, L., P. regia, L., Microglossiis aterrimus, Wagl., 



