1883.] MR. p. L. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM TIMOR LAUT. 57 



colore lavatis ; remigum marginibus interioribus fuliginosis ; 

 rostro ct pedibus nigris ; cauda fere ccquali aut pmtlum rotun- 

 data : long. tota7'3, alee 4'1, caudce 2'8. Fem. Supra cineracea, 

 striis scaparum nigris variegata ; alis caudaque fusco-nigris ; 

 subtus alba nigra flammulata ; crassitie fere eadem. 

 Hab. Larat, inss. Tenimberensium. 



Obs. Species cauda fere sequali, corpore crasso, rostro robusto et 

 colore maris uniformi notabilis. 



Both male (August Ist) and female (August 8th) are marked 

 " Irides dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet black." 



42. Megapodius tenimberensis, sp. nov. 



Supra brunnescenti-olivaceus, in cervice magis cinereus, in dorso 

 postico magis brunnescens ; pileo subcristato interscapulio con- 

 colore ; subtus cineraceus olivaceo tinctus ; capitis lateralis 

 et gvlm pelle rubra plmnis paucis obsita ; subalaribus ventre 

 concolorihus ; rostro Jlavo ; tarsis antice nigris postice rubris, 

 digitis nigris ; long, tola 1 1 "5, alee 96, caudce 3*5, tarsi 2*8. 

 Hab. Kirimoen et Loetoe, inss. Tenimberensium. 

 Obs. Species pedum colore ad M. geelvinkianum corporis pictura 

 magis ad M. tumulum appropinquans. 



There are two specimens of this apparently new Megapode in the 

 collection. One from Loetoe, Timor Laut, obtained September 22nd, 

 is marked " Irides dark brown ; bill pale yellow ; legs in front black, 

 but front of knees red, back of legs red ; feet black." The other, from 

 Kirimoen, is labelled " Iris brown ; bill pale yellow ; legs and feet 

 red." But the colours of these last-named parts, so far as can be 

 told from the dry skins, do not materially differ from those of the 

 first specimen ; and the two birds agree in plumage, except that the 

 specimen from the islet of Kirimoen is rather more reddish on 

 the face. 



To conclude this communication I will say a few words concerning 

 the general character of the avifauna of the Tenimber Islands so far 

 as it is indicated by this collection. It is quite evident that the 

 prevailing facies of this ornis is, as might have been expected, 

 predominantly Papuan. Of the .54 species included in the above- 

 given list, 33 are mentioned in Salvadori's work. Of the 15 new 

 species all are of Papuan genera, and nearly allied to known 

 Papuan species except the Strix, which appears to be a diminutive 

 form of an Australian type, and the Myiagra, which is nearest to a 

 Timor form. Of the 4 indeterminable species, three are Papuan 

 forms, but the fourth (the Geocichla) is probably most nearly allied to 

 a Timor bird. There is also in the collection one other Timor bird, 

 Erythrura tricolor, which is not found in New Guinea or the 

 Moluccas. I think, therefore, we may fairly say that the Tenim- 

 borese Avifauna is preeminently Papuan, varied only by a slight 

 element from Timor (represented by Erythrura tricolor, Myiagra 

 fulviventris, and the Geocichla), and by an Australian tinge shown by 



