1880.] ON BIRDS FROM DUKE-QF-YORK ISLAND. 65 



6. Ou a Fifth Collection of Birds made by the Rev. G. 

 Brown, C.M.Z.S., on Duke-of-York Island and in its 

 Vicinity. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., j 



Secretary to the Society \ 



[Received January 30, 1880.] 

 (Plates VI.-VIII.) 



I have again the pleasure of laying before the Society a collection 

 of bird-skins formed by the Rev. G. Brown, our Corresponding 

 Member at Duke-of-"iork Island. The series on this occasion is 

 not large, but there are several specimens of interest in it. 



The following is a list of the species represented in it. They are 

 all from Kabakadai, on the coast of New Britain. 



1 . Megalurus interscapularis, sp. nov. 



2. P(xcilodryas cethiops, sp. nov. 



3. Myzomela cineracea, Sclater. 



4. Munia melana, sp. nor. 



5. Corvus orru, Bp. 



6. Dendrochelidon mystacea (Less.). 



7. Halcyon sancta, Vig. et Horsf. 



8. Eclectus polychlorus (Scop.). 



9. Falco severus, Horsf. 



10. Rallus pectoralis. Less. 



1 1. Rallus insignis, sp. nov. 



12. Amaurornis rnoluccana (Wallace). 



13. Nyeticorax caledonicus (6m.). 



The new species may be described as follows : — 



1. Meg.\lurus interscapularis, sp. uov. (Plate VL) 

 Supra terreno-brunncus, pileo antico rufescente ; interscapulio 

 nigro Jlammulato ; alls intks nigricantibus, remigum marginibus 

 exteriiis pallid^ rufescentibus et fusco obsolete transfasciolatis ; 

 subtus albus, lateribus et crisso in fuscum transeuntibus j caudd 

 pallide fused, e rectricibus rigidis et valde gradualis compositd, 

 harum scapis nigricantibus ; rostro conieo, ad basin albicante ; 

 pedihus corylinis. Long, tota 8, alcB 2'8, caudce rectr. ext. 

 I'd, med. 4 3, tarsi 1. 

 Hab. in ins. Nova Britannia (Brown). 



This bird belongs apparently to the genus Megalurus, and is 

 allied to M. galactodes of Australia^ ; but is distinguishable by its 

 larger size, the want of superciliary stripes, and the body being white 



below. I can only detect eight tail-feathers ; but it is quite probable | 



that two external ones may have been lost. " 



' See report on the first collection, P. Z. S. 1 877, p. 96, second collection, 

 P. Z. S. 1878, p. 289, third collection, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 670, and fourth collection, 

 .1'. Z. S. 1879, p. 446. 



^ Sphenmacics galactodes, Gould, B. Austr. iii. pi, xxxv. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1880, No. V. 5 



