MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA. 445 



black. The bird is sliy and difficult to get at ; it resorts mostly 

 to the ranges, and frequents trees with plenty of vines and 

 creepers on them." [C. Htmstein.'\ 



I have already remarked on the differences exhibited by the 

 female Eifle-birds from South-eastern New Gruinea ; and now that 

 I perceive them to be constant, I have no hesitation in regarding 

 the Eifle-bird of this locality as a distinct species. It must be 

 remembered that in the genus PtilorJiis the females are always very 

 different, while the males are very closely allied. The male of 

 P. intercedens is certainly very like the same sex of P. Alherti, 

 but has a shorter and a stronger bill ; and, moreover, the general 

 aspect of the bird below is more entirely reddish purple, the oily 

 brown colour of the breast being confined entirely to that part, 

 while in P. Alherti the oily brown colour extends over the greater 

 part of the breast, and only the lower abdomen is reddish purple. 



Drepanornis Albertisii, Sclater ; Salvad. f. c. ii. p. 549. 

 No. 5. Taburi district. " Waeta." 



The four specimens sent by Mr. Goldie are all females or im- 

 mature males. The tail is much paler than in Arfak examples ; 

 but until the male is discovered it would be premature to suggest 

 that the bird from South-eastern New Gruinea is distinct. 



Mr. Groldie writes : — " The plumed bird (male) we have been 

 unable to obtain, although we have shot the young male and 

 female two seasons in different localities, and the natives recog- 

 nize and name them on seeing a coloured plate ; but we have 

 never had the good fortune even to see one." 



..ZEltieoedtjs Stonei, Sliarpe; Salvad. ^. c. ii. p. 678. No. 94. 

 Choqeri district. "Tavitagga." [^A. G.'] Mr. Groldie sends two 

 eggs, said to be of this Cat-bird, which are white, very different 

 from the only Bower-bird's eggs yet discovered. 



Ptilopus belltjs, Sclater ; Salvad. Ann. Miis. Civic. G-enov. ix. 

 p. 197. No. 23. Choqeri district. " Bebero." [A. G.'] 



Ptilopus Gestroi, Salvad. ^ D'Alh. ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. 

 Genov. ix p. 197. No. 24. Choqeri district. " Mabu." [A. G.] 



Ptilopus pulchellus, Grai/ ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. 

 ix. p. 198. No. 21. Taburi district. " Toie." 



Ptilopus superbus (Temm.) ; Salvad. Ann. M. C. Genov. ix. 

 p. 199. No. 15. Taburi district. " Arokire." [A. G.] Mainland 

 of China Straits. Iris red ; feet a dark reddish colour (Hunstein). 



