INTRODUCTION 



The wonderful fauna of New Guinea, especially the 

 marvellous forms of Bird- and Insect-life to be found there, 

 have long attracted the attention of naturalists in all parts 

 of the world. The exploration of this vast island during 

 recent years has brought to light many extraordinary and 

 hitherto unknown forms, more particularly new Birds of 

 Paradise and Gardener Bower-Birds ; but until recently the 

 central portion was still entirely unexplored, though no 

 part of the globe promised to yield such an abun- 

 dance of zoological treasures to those prepared to face 

 the difficulties of penetrating to the great ranges of the 

 interior. 



The B.O.U. Expedition, of which the present work 

 is the official record, originated in the following manner. 

 For many years past I had been trying to organise an 

 exploration of the Snow Mountains, but the reported 

 hostility of the natives In the southern part of Dutch 

 New Guinea and the risks attending such an undertaking, 

 rendered the chances of success too small to justify the 

 attempt. 



It was in 1907 that Mr. Walter Goodfellow, well- 

 known as an experienced traveller and an accomplished 

 naturalist, informed me that he believed a properly 



