1862.] MR, A. R. WALLACE ON BIRDS FROM NEW GUINEA. 165 



teresting species, hitherto only known by specimens in the French 

 or Dutch collections, and now, I believe, for the first time exhibited 

 in England, viz. : — 



Nasiterna pygmcea, Q. & G. Remarkable as being the smallest 

 of the Psittaci, and for its curious, rigid, spined tail. 



Tanysiptera nympha, G. R. Gray. This specimen decides the 

 locality of this interesting and beautiful bird to be the N.W. penin- 

 sula of New Guinea, ia the interior. 



Peltops blainvillii, Garn. This rare bird also inhabits the island 

 of Mysol, where a single specimen was obtained by Herr Rosenberg. 

 Mine came from the N.W. of New Guinea. 



Eupetes ccerulescens, Temm. This bird and the last seem quite 

 out of place in New Guinea, as we must pass over all the Moluccas 

 and Celebes to find their nearest allies in Borneo, Java, and Su- 

 matra. 



Ptilorhynchus buccoides, Miill. 



Hierococcyx leucolophus, Miill. 



Campephaga melas, Miill. 



Besides these, adult specimens of the fine Talegalla cuvieri were 

 also obtained, and Mr. Allen's collection also comprises five new 

 species of great interest — a Pigeon, a Kingfisher, a Parrot, and two 

 Passeres, of which the descriptions follow. 



1. CORIPHILUS RUBRONOTATUS. 



Above dark green ; beneath yellow green ; a large spot on the 

 forehead, sides of the breast, and under wing-coverts bright red ; a 

 spot on the upper tail-coverts dull red ; ear-coverts deep blue ; wings 

 and tail as in C. placentis. Bill and cere carmine-red ; feet pale red. 



Total length 9^ in. ; wings 3^ in. 



Allied to C. placentis, but smaller, and wants the red face and 

 blue rump which distinguish that species, as well as the yellow- 

 tinged crown, which is replaced by a red spot. 



Hab. Saiwatty, and the N.W, extremity of New Guinea. 



2. Halcyon nigrocyanea. (Pi. XIX.) 



Back, and sides of the head and neck, deep black ; throat, lower 

 part of the breast, and belly white ; forehead and crown deep blue, 

 margined from the eyes round the nape vi^ith lighter blue ; a band 

 across the breast, the shoulders, and wing-coverts deep blue ; quills 

 dusky black, margined with blue to near the tips ; middle of the 

 back narrowly white, shading into blue, which becomes dark on the 

 tail-coverts ; tail deep blue, inner margins of the feathers and be- 

 neath black ; under tail-coverts black, tipped with blue ; sides of the 

 breast and flanks black ; under wing- coverts black, with a white 

 central band. Bill black, pale in the centre beneath ; feet black. 



Total length 9 in. ; wing 3f in. 



The young bird has slightly rufous lores, and the pectoral band 

 rufous mingled with black and blue. 



Hab. N.W, peninsula of New Guinea. 



