% the B.O.U. Expedition to Dutch New Guinea, 103 



seldom met with ; it has a rather loud cry and a beautiful 

 soaring flighty often in ascending circles. Besides this large 

 Eagle, two species of Goshawk, Astur etorques and A. poJio- 

 cephalus, were met with, likewise a small chestnut and white 

 Brahminy Kite (Haliastw 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, lleinwardt's Cuckoo-Falcon [Baza reinwardti), 

 Avith 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 Plialacro- 

 corax melanoleucus 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 AYakatimi. 



Family Anatid.e — Ducks. 



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 dull 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 Australian 

 form has been named T. j-ufitergum by Dr. Hartert. 



The only other species of Duck brought home was an 

 immature male Garganey [Querguedula discors) shot on the 

 Kapare River. 



Family Ibidid^ — Ibises. 

 The Eastern form of the Sacred Ibis {Ibis stidipennis) was 

 met with at the mouth of the Mimika. It is easily distin- 

 guished from its western ally by having the innermost 

 secondaries mottled with black and white. 



Family Ardeid^ — Herons. 

 Several different species of Herons were procured, in- 

 cluding the Night-Heron (Ni/cticorax caledonica), the 



