The Zoologist — September, 1873. 8689 



[I have this spring had a pair of yellowhammers huild in ivy on a wall 

 inside my bird cage. — E. Newman.] 



A new Bird of Paradise^ Drepanornis Albertisii. — In the ' Sidney Mail' 

 Signer Luigi Maria D'Albertis gives the following account of a new bird of 

 paradise discovered by himself in New Guinea: — -"Among other birds 

 obtained at Atam, I may mention a new species of bird-of-paradise, 

 which perhaps may even prove to be a new genus. I secured only a male 

 and female, which have been transmitted to the Zoological Society of 

 London by the last April mail steamer, and they are unique specimens. 

 It is e\'idently a very rare bird, for many of the natives did not know it, 

 but others called it ' Quama.' The peculiarity of this bird consists in the 

 formation of the bill and the softness of the plumage. At first it does not 

 appear to have the beauty usually seen in the birds of this group, but when 

 more closely observed, and under a strong light, the plumage is seen to be 

 both rich and brilliant. The feathers that arise from the base of the biU 

 are of a metallic green and of a reddish copper-colour ; the feathers of the 

 breast, when laid quite smooth, are of a violet-gray, but when raised form a 

 semicircle round the body, reflecting a rich golden colour. Other violet- 

 gray feathers arise from the flanks, edged by a rich metallic-violet tint ; but 

 when the plumage is entirely expanded the bird appears as if it had formed 

 two semicircles around itself, and is certainly a very handsome bird. Above 

 the tail and wings the feathers are yellowish, underneath they are of a darker 

 shade. The head is barely covered with small round feathers, which are 

 rather deficient behind the ears ; the shoulders are of a tobacco-colour, and 

 underneath the throat of a black blending into olive-colour; the feathers of 

 the breast are violet-gray, banded by a line of olive, and those of the vent 

 white. The bill is black, eyes chestnut, and the feet of a dark leaden 

 colour. The food of this bird is not yet known, nothing having been found 

 in the stomachs of those I prepared but clear water." In ' Natui-e ' for 

 August 14th, Mr. Sclater gives a more detailed description, and another is 

 BtiU to be published in the forthcoming part of the ' Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society.' Mr. Sclater, in the same number of 'Nature' thus 

 announces the discovery of a second new species by M. D'Albertis: — 

 " Besides this paradise-bird, M. D'Albertis procured from the natives, in the 

 vicinity of Oraugeri Bay, on the western coast of New Guinea, opposite to 

 Salawatty, two imperfect skins of a second apparently new species. This is 

 a true Paradisea, nearly allied to the greater and lesser birds-of-paradise 

 (P. apoda and P. j^apuana), but having the long lateral plumes more of an 

 orange-red, as in P. rubra. These skins were likewise exhibited at the 

 Zoological Society's meeting on June 17 last, and the species, in accordance 

 with M. D'Albertis' wishes, was proposed to be called Paradisea Eaggiana, 

 after the Marquis Pi.aggi." 



Nutcracker in Somersetshire. — It may interest your ornithological 



