292 PYGMIES AND PAPUANS 



great Philippine all}' or to the still more powerful species 

 inhabiting Central America. Mr. Claude Grant says that 

 this species was seldom met with ; it has a rather loud 

 cry and a beautiful soaring flight, often in ascending 

 circles. Besides this large Eagle, two species of Goshawk 

 Astur etorques and A. poliocephalus were met with, like- 

 wise a small chestnut and white Brahminy Kite [Haliastur 

 girrenera). A small Sparrow-Hawk was obtained near 

 the mouth of the Mimika River, but being in immature 

 plumage its identification is at present uncertain. Rein- 

 war dt's Cuckoo-Falcon (Baza reinwardti) with a crested 

 head and banded breast, was rather a rare bird and 

 appears to feed largely on insects. 



FAMILY PHALACROCORACID.E — CORMORANTS. 



The small black-backed white-breasted species Phala- 

 crocorax melanoleuats is the only representative of this 

 group. Several specimens were shot on the upper waters 

 of the Mimika, at Parimau and at the base camp at 

 Wakatimi. 



FAMILY ANATID.E—UVCKS. 



The handsome white-necked Sheld-duck {Tadorna 

 radjah) differs from the Australian form in being much 

 darker on the back, the plumage being practically black 

 with indistinct mottlings of duh rufous on the mantle. 

 This dark form, found also in the ^Moluccas, was common 

 about the mouth of the Mimika River. The more rufous- 

 backed Austrahan form has been named T. rufitergum by 

 Dr. Hartert. 



The only other species of duck brought home was an 

 immature male Garganey {Querquedula discors) shot on 

 the Kapare River. 



