3 [Vol. xxix. 



" Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen^ — I have been asked 

 to give some account of the birds of the region visited 

 by the B. O. U. Expedition to Dutch New Guinea. My 

 remarks must necessarily be limited, owing to the fact 

 that I was obliged to return home through continuoxis 

 ill-healthj just as we had reached the mountains where the 

 more interesting species were to be met with. Nearly all 

 the rarer birds were collected after I had left the country, 

 and the bulk of the skins still remains to be worked out 

 and many of the species to be identified. The dense im- 

 penetrable nature of the country affords the naturalist less 

 opportunity of studying its bird-life than any other part of 

 the world that I know of. 



'' What first struck us on landing at the Mimika was the 

 apparent paucity of bird-life, and this was also noticeable 

 for a considerable distance from its mouth until the man- 

 grove swamps were passed. When first we landed a number 

 of Pelicans, Terns, and Waders were seen on the low sand- 

 banks which stretch far out to sea^ but could not be identified 

 as they admitted of no near approach, and later on practically 

 disappeared from those parts, our arrival having attracted 

 fleets of canoes from all parts of the coast, east and west, 

 which no doubt scared the birds away. 



*' Throughout the mangrove belt, which reached right up 

 to our base-camp at Wakatirai, bird-life was very limited. 

 A few white Cockatoos {Cacatua tritov) could generally be 

 seen, but always flew away screaming at our approach. 

 One species of Lory, Chalcopsittacus scintillaius, was fairly 

 common, also the Black-and-White Fruit- Pigeon [Myristici- 

 vora spilorrhod), which seems to be confined entirely to 

 mangrove swamps, not only here but elsewhere. It was 

 observed breeding in May along the creeks near the mouth 

 of the river, there being no less than seven nests in one 

 tree. Usually a few solitary Black Cockatoos {Microglossus 

 aterrimus) might also be seen on the lower river, sitting on 

 the tops of the highest trees. The call of this bird, a loud 

 clear whistle, always attracted attention, and even from 



