78 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant on Birds 



In tbeir latest review of this species Messrs. Rothschild 

 and Hartert [op. cit.) recognise no fewer than five subspecies, 

 the specimens from the Utakwa and Setakwa Rivers beinig 

 described as new under the name P. n. breoipennis. Our 

 large series from the Setakwa River and other localities to 

 the west, when compared with typical specimens of F. novce- 

 guinecB and a series from the Ara Islands, does not seem to 

 support their conclusions, and I am unable to separate the 

 present series or the birds from Aru from the typical form. 



The size of the knob at the base of the bill is largely 

 dependent on sex and age, and a male from Dorei has a 

 large knob, scarcely inferior in size to the largest found in 

 any male from Aru. The difference in the colour of the head 

 used as a character is non-existent. The size of the wing, 

 as will be seen by the following measurements, is also of 

 no importance : — 



F. novceguinecB, from Arfak, Misol, and Waigiu : 

 4 males, 145-158 mm. ; 2 females, 140, 150 mm. 



P. n. aruensis : 



4 males, 144-152 mm. ; 5 females, 138-145 mm. 



F. n. hrevipennis : 



13 males, 139-150 mm. ; 8 females, 130-140 mm. 



As regards F. n. subtuherosus Hartert, from Fergusson 

 Island, having only one specimen for comparison I cannot 

 express any definite opinion, but I rather doubt if it can be 

 upheld, the knob at the base of the bill being an uncertain 

 character, usually more developed in the male than in the 

 female. 



Specimen " v," a quite young male still partly in down, has 

 no white edges to the feathers of the upperparts, a character 

 found in somewhat older birds, but, as in these, the outer 

 webs of the quills are margined with olive, unlike those of 

 the adult. 



" This is a common species, keeping usually to the tops of 

 the tallest trees, from whence its loud well-known notes 

 may always be heard. It has a strong flight, and when on 

 the wing I have always observed it in pairs."— C //. ^. G. 



