876.] 



MR. P. L. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM NEW GUINEA. 



459 



5. On the Birds collected by Dr. Comrie on the South-east 

 Coast of New Guinea during the Survey of H.M.S. 

 'Basilisk/ By P. L. Sclater, M.A., F.R.S., Secretary 

 to the Society. 



[Keceived May 15, 1876.] 



(Plates XLII. & XLIII.) 



Dr. Comrie has placed in my hands for determination some bird- 

 skins collected by him while serving as medical officer in H.M.S. 

 ' Basilisk,' daring its recent survey of the south-east coast of New 

 Guinea under the command of Capt. Moresby*. The collection 

 contains thirteen skins, belonging to eleven species, of which one is 

 quite new to science, and two others are only known from single 

 specimens. Their names are as follows : — 



1. CoRVUS ORRU, Bp. 



One example from Huon Gulf, south-east coast of New Guinea, 

 nearly opposite New Britain. 



Head of Manucorlia comrii. 



2. Manucodia comrii, sp. nov. (Plate XLII.) 



Nitidissime sericeo-ceneo-viridis, fere unicolor, in ventre purpu- 

 rascens: capitis cervicisque undique plumis revohitis quasi 

 cincinnatis: alis caudaque intus niyris, extus dorso concoloribus, 

 pauJo in purpureum trahentibus : rostro elongato, ad nares 

 sulcato, nigro: pedibus niyris: long, tota 17*0, alee 9*5, caudce 

 7'Q, rostri a rictu 2'2, tarsi 1*7. 



Hub. Papuse reg. meridionali-orientalis, Huan-Gulf {Comrie). 



This is by far the finest and largest of the peculiar genus now 

 generally termed Manucodia (formerly Pltonygama) yet discovered. 

 It is immediately distinguishable from M. chalybela and M. atra by 



* See Capt. Moresby's narrative in his ' Discoveries and Surveys in New 

 Guinea and the D'Entrecastreux Islands.' London: 1876. L vol. 8vo. 



