- aA 
ane ‘NATURE 
(Omen 1873 
Whilst waiting for the Corono, D’Albertis rambled 
about in the vicinity of his habitation, and found a fine 
young male of the Six-shafted Bird of Paradise (Parotéa 
sexpennis), which had never been previously obtained 
except through native agency, and in imperfect con- 
dition. Other examples of both sexes were subse- 
quently obtained, the adult male being always found 
alone in the thickest parts of the forest, whilst the 
female and young birds are usually met with at a lower 
elevation. Respecting this Paradise bird D?Albertis 
states that it is very noisy and feeds upon various kinds 
of fruit, more especially on a kind of fig which is very 
plentiful upon the mountain ranges, To clean its rich 
plumage, it scrapes a round place clear of grass and 
leaves, where the ground is dry, and rolls itself in the 
dust like a gallinaceous bird, at the same time elevating 
and depressing its plumage, and also raising and lowering 
the six remarkable plumes on its head, from which 
it derives its specific name. On the following day 
(Sept. 9), D’Albertis was fortunate enough to obtain 
adult specimens of the Six-shafted Paradise Bird 
just described, and also of the Superb Paradise 
Bird which he had observed on his way up the 
mountain. The latter is found on the same moun- 
tains, and feeds upon similar fruits; it flies about 
from branch to branch among the trees of the 
forest, uttering a cry of “ni-ed, ni-ed,” and from this 
peculiar note is named by the natives, “ Niedda,” while 
the Six-shafted Paradise Bird is called “ Coron-a,.” After 
skinning his Paradise Birds, Signor D’Albertis roasted 
their flesh for his dinner, and found it of an excellent 
flavour ; his meal, however, was interrupted by the arrival 
of the Corono and his suite. Hearing a noise at the door, 
he turned and saw a number of men armed to the teeth. 
_ They entered, and defiled before him in silence, laid down 
their arms, and arranged themselves about the room. 
They were all adorned with necklaces and bracelets 
formed of shells, whilst quantities of flowers of bright 
and rich colours ornamented their hair, ears, and arms. 
After the men, followed women and children, until the 
house was full; last of all came the Corono himself, 
armed like the others, and lavishly adorned with flowers. 
He was followed by his son and daughter, both albinos, 
with hair of a clear white colour, eyes blue, and skin very 
white. Having entertained the Corono with a cup of 
cognac, Signor D’Albertis received a present of yams, 
maize, and oranges in return, and was informed that he 
was welcome to the country. Next day he received 
numerous visits from natives, and made large additions 
to his zoological collections, Finding the locality so 
rich, Signor D’Albertis determined to take an adjacent 
house, for which a rent of 4 metres of blue calico and 
four brass bracelets was demanded. On September 11 
possession was taken of the new habitation, and the Italian 
flag hoisted on the summit. The house was divided by 
some pieces of bark into two rooms, one of which served 
as a bedroom and a workshop, whilst the other was the 
reception-room, and also served as akitchen. When the 
news spread abroad that a white man had arrived, the 
visits of the Papuans became very frequent. Most of 
them brought yams, maize, or tobacco, for which Venetian 
beads were given in payment. On September 13 the 
guides who had brought Signor D’Albertis from Andai 
left him to return home, taking messages to his com- 
panion Beccari, to endeavour to send up a new stock of 
provisions, which were running very short. 
Established in his new quarters, Signor D’Albertis set 
to work on his collections of birds and insects, and suc- 
ceeded in amassing a large number of interesting speci- 
mens. But his provisions quickly began to run short, 
leaving him only a small quantity of rice to subsist on 
together with the flesh of the birds prepared for his 
collections. Salt was not to be had, and powder and 
shot also began to fail, and endeavours to get a fresh 
supply of ammunition and provisions up from Andai did 
not succeed. In consequence of a quarrel between the 
Arfaks and the people of Dorey, in which one of the 
natives was killed, his friendly intercourse began to be 
interrupted. Neither women nor children brought him 
insects, and soon afterwards they refused to sell him yams 
and maize. The Corono informed him, through the in- 
terpreter, that they were expecting an attack at Atam, 
and intended to leave the village. This D’Albertis did 
not believe until they commenced destroying the planta- 
tions, when his position becoming critical from want of 
provisions, he arranged with the Corono to return to” 
Andai at the end of the month. 
On September 29, accordingly, D’Albertis left Atam at 
sunrise, accompanied by about forty persons, his health 
having been much improved by his sojourn in the moun- 
tain air. Returning bya shorter route, he avoided Putat, 
and on arriving, on October 1, at Andai, found, to his 
regret, that Signor Beccari had gone on to the former 
village, so that if he had passed through it he could have 
abpamed a fresh supply of provisions. 
During his month’s residence at Atam, Signor D’AL- 
bertis obtained 122 specimens of birds, and a large col- 
lection of insects, besides some mammals and other © 
specimens, The only part of these that have yet reached — 
Europe is the series of birds, of which an account was 
given in a previous number of NATURE (vol. viii. 
p. 305). The mammals obtained are stated to embrace 
several species of Czscus, one of which is believed to be 
new, two or three species of Tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus), 
a Pteropus, a Squirrel, and several species of Mice and 
Bats. The Insect collection is rich in Cefonie and 
Melolonthe. 
Soon after his month’s excursion to the Agee 
mountains, Signor D’Albertis was compelled, by continued 
attacks of fever, to leave New Guinea and proceed to 
Sydney, in the Italian frigate Vettore Pzsano. Dr. 
Bennett informs me that his health is now re-established, 
and that he will probably return to Europe in a few 
months. 
This interesting narrative serves to show us that the 
dangers and difficulties of penetrating into the interior of 
New Guinea, though considerable, have been somewhat 
over-rated. Though Signor D’Albertis has been the first 
to publish an account of his adventures in this country, 
I believe that the naturalist Rosenberg, in the employ- — 
ment of the Leyden Museum, had already made an 
edition into nearly the same district.* Where these 
2, pioneers have found their way, others will doubtless — 
* Several of the new birds described by Dr. Schlegel, in his article on 
Rosenberg's collections (Ned. Tigdschr. iv. p.,33), were also obtained by 
D'Albertis, but the only locality assigned to ‘them is “*Vintérieur oR la 
grande presq'ile septentrionale de la Nouvelle-Guinée.” 7 
