70 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE [ Feb. 2, 
After a close examination of the specimen, I do not see how any 
unbiased naturalist can have any doubt of its being a hybrid, it is so 
perfectly intermediate in form, size, and coloration between the adult 
males of the Regent and Satin Bower-birds. The shape and contour of 
the bill, the colour of the iris, the manner in which the bird is marked, 
and the shape and form of these markings all tend to prove its hy- 
bridism. Added to this; the fact that the bird was shot out of a 
troup of Satin Bower-birds, in a neighbourhood frequented by Regent 
birds, a few miles out of Brisbane, is to my mind quite sufficient proof 
that it is an accidental hybrid between these species. If Ptilono- 
rhynchus rawnleyi were really a valid species, surely other examples 
of it would have been found near the same locality ; butso far as I 
can learn, up to the present time no reliable evidence has been ob- 
tained of any more haying been since procured or even seen in any 
part of Australia. 
5. Contributions to the Ornithology of Madagascar.—Part 
IV.* By R. Bowpier Suarpz, F.L.S., F.Z.8., of the 
Zoological Department, British Museum. 
[Received February 1, 1875.] 
(Plates XIII. & XIV.) 
Since my last. communication on this subject (P. Z. S. 1872, 
p- 866) I have examined several Madagascar collections, notably three 
received by Mr. A. Boucard of Great Russell Street ; but these did 
not contain any novelties, although some few rarities will be found 
mentioned in this paper. By Mr. Cutter’s kindness, however, I have 
been permitted to examine a very fine collection recently sent home 
by my old correspondent Mr. Crossley, whose investigations in the 
wonderful island of Madagascar will for ever connect his name with 
the natural history of that part of the world. This last consignment 
contained many rare species mentioned by me in former papers—such, 
for instance, as Brachypteracias leptosomus, Geobiastes squamigera, 
Atelornis pittoides, Philepitta castanea, Oxylabes madagascariensis, 
Mystacornis crossleyi, Pseudobias wardi, Corethrura insularis, &c. 
At present we are unable to state precisely the exact locality where 
these collections of Mr. Crossley have been made; for the letter 
which usually accompanies his consignments has, in this instance, 
miscarried, and all the clue I can find to his whereabouts is the name 
“‘ Ampasmonhavo” on the tickets of some of his birds. Here he 
collected the new Afelornis and a Phedina; but I cannot find the 
place in the map. It is probably between Antananarivo and Mo- 
roundava, for which place Mr. Crossley was making when we last 
heard of him. 
* Of. P. ZS. 1870, p. 384; 1871, p. 313; 1872, p. 866. 
