^ 



274 PYGMIES AND PAPUANS 



and convoluted, that of the Purple-and- Violet species 

 possessing no fewer than twelve coils which lie between 

 the skin and the pectoral muscles. In spite of this 

 marvellous instrument its cries are not nearly so loud 

 as those of the Birds-of-Paradise of the genus Paradisea. 

 Mr. Claude Grant discovered a nest of M. altera with 

 two eggs at Parimau, an interesting find, as no properly 

 authenticated eggs of that species had hitherto been 

 obtained. 



FAMILY EULABETID^ — TREE-STARLINGS. 



Among the smaller Glossy Starlings we must specially 

 mention a new species, Calornis mystacea, discovered by the 

 Expedition. It has the plumage purplish-bronze and is 

 especially remarkable in having long semi-erect plumes 

 on the forehead as well as long neck- hackles. ^ Three 

 specimens were obtained flying in company with large 

 flocks of C. metallica, a rather widely distributed species, 

 which ranges to North Australia, the Moluccas and the 

 Solomon Islands. 



The Grackles or Talking Starlings are represented by 

 two lovely species, the first being the well-known 

 Dumont's Grackle {Mino dumonti) a dark glossy greenish- 

 black bird with a yellow belly and white under tail-coverts, 

 It has a brown eye surrounded by a large naked orange 

 patch partially covered with short stiff filaments. The 

 second species Robertson's Golden Grackle (Melanopyrrhus 

 robertsoni) is an equally handsome, but much rarer bird, 

 and the fine series of adults obtained by the Expedition 

 proves that it is a species quite distinct from M. orientalis, 

 the form found in British New Guinea which has a large 

 black patch on the occiput. 



Robertson's Grackle has the cheeks and upper part of 

 the throat, as well as the back, wings and breast, black 

 glossed with green ; the rest of the head, neck and chest. 



