hy the BiO.U. Expedition to Dutch New Guinea. 105 



Only fresh meat to be had. On the canoe-journeys up the 

 river Sclater's Goura was frequently met with in the early 

 mornings in parties of two or three, searching for aquatic 

 life along the muddy banks. When disturbed they did not 

 immediately take flighty but with raised wings pirouetted 

 around for a few seconds and then flew to the nearest high 

 tree. Mr. Goodfellow found the remains of small crabs in 

 their stomachs, and. a large percentage of the birds shot 

 were infested by a small red parasite, the same or similar 

 to that which is known in other parts of New Guinea as 

 '* Scrub-itch/' 



Another very handsome bird is tlie Ground-Pigeon 

 [Otidiphaps nohilis), with the head bluish-black, the nape 

 dull metallic-green, the mantle and wings pui'plish-chestuut, 

 and the rest of the plumage deep purple, all being more or 

 less metallic. Its long legs and the upward carriage of its 

 long tail give it much the appearance of a Bantam hen. 

 It was fairly common, but being extremely shy was rarely 

 met with. 



Among the larger Fruit-Pigeons we must specially 

 mention Carpophaga pinon, which has the general appear- 

 ance of a large Wood-Pigeon. It was met with in large 

 flocks and proved an excellent bird for the table. Anotlier 

 very striking species, of rather lesser proportions and very 

 much rarer, was Miiller's Fruit-Pigeon [Carpophmja muelleri), 

 easily distinguished by its white throat, the bold black ring 

 round its neck, and its shining chestnut mantle. Among 

 the handsomest was Carpophaga rufiventris, a bird with the 

 breast cinnamon and the wings and back metallic green, 

 copper, and purple. Lastly, a very striking form was the 

 large creamy-white Pigeon [Myristicivora spilorrhoa) with 

 the flight- feathers, tips of the tail-feathers and under tail- 

 coverts blackish. It appears to be entirely confined to the 

 mangrove-swamps, and was observed breeding in May along 

 the creeks near the mouth of the river, no less than seven 

 nests being found in one tree. 



As already stated, among the smaller Fruit-Pigeons many 

 are very beautifully marked and brilliantly coloured, but 



