Vol. xxix.] 



28 



Slender-billed 

 species. 



P. gracilis, Gould. 



The distribution of the various forms of this group of 

 Ptilotis met with in North Australia, New Guinea, and the 

 Aru Islands has always been a difficult matter to unravel. 

 It would appear that throughout their range two forms 

 are found side by side — a larger stouter-billed form and a 

 smaller more slender-billed bird. Tliey are quite distinct, 

 but have been constantly confused, owing partly to their 

 occurring together and partly to their general similarity 



in colouring. 



Stouter-billed ") 



species. I 



North Australia . . P. notata, Gould. I 

 New Guinea .... P. analoya, ileiclienb. 



Is. of Wokan, Ko- P. aruensis, Sharpe. k, 



brur, and Teran- I 



gan, Aru Islands. I 

 I. ot'Wamma, Aru P. longirostris,0^\\\\Q-Gi-a,nt. 



Islands. j 



There does not appear to be any difference between 

 examples of P. gracilis from Cape York and those from 

 New Guinea and the Aru Islands. 



Calornis mystacea, sp. n. 



Adult female. Most nearly allied to C. altirostris, Salvad., 

 and C. cantoroides, Gray, as regards the shape of the bill, 

 which is short and high, but the feathers on the forehead 

 are elongate, narrow, and semi-erect, partially concealing 

 the base of the culmen ; the neck-hackles are much longer 

 and narrower and of a uniform dull bronze-black; the lower 

 back, rump, and undcrparts purplish-bronze ; wings and tail 

 dull greenish-bronze ; scapulars, lesser and median wing- 

 coverts brighter, a mixture of purplish- and greenish-bronze. 

 The tail is wedge-shaped, as in C. metallica, the middle 

 feathers being much the longest. Iris pale Naples yellow ; 

 bill and legs black. Total length 200 mm. ; culmen from 

 base of skull 21, from anterior wall of nostril to tip 13 ; 

 wing 102 ; tail 78 ; tarsus 21. 



Hab. Pariniau, Mitnika liiver. 



Type in the British Museum: ?, No. 498, IG. xi.lO 

 (C. H. B. Grant). 



