collected in Dutch New Guinea. 311 



means uncommon, but being a ground-bird and living 

 among the denser undergrowth, it is more often to be heard 

 getting on the wing than seen.'^ — C.H. B. G. 



Henicophaps albifrons schlegeli. 



Rynchcenas scldegeli Rosenb. Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xxix. 

 p 143 (1867). 



Henicopliaps albifrons Gray ; Salvad. Cat. xxi. p. 524 

 (1893) [part.] ; van Oort, p. Q2 (1909) ; Roths. & Hartert, 

 N. Z. XX. p. 480 (1913). 



a. ? . Mimika River, 23rd April, 1910. [No. 1132, 

 G. C.S.] 



h-f. cJ. Parimau, Mimika River, 6th Sept. 1910-8th Jan. 

 1911. [Nos. 91, 173, 801, 869, 890, C. H. B. G.'] 



g. S- Iwaka River, 4th Feb. 1911. [No. 901, 

 C.H.B. G.'\ 



h. S- Wataikwa River, 29th Oct. 1910. [No. 1453, 

 G. C. S.] 



Iris dark brown ; bill ashy-horn colour^ lower mandible 

 pale at the base ; feet deep salmon to crimson and magenta. 



The colour of the forehead and crown of the head in adult 

 male birds, on which subject Dr. van Oort has made some 

 critical remarks, does not seem to be of any importance, as in 

 some birds from Parimau the crown is white, while in others 

 it is white washed with buff. The colouring-matter is probably 

 caused by the fruit on which the bird had been feeding. 

 I believe also that the male differs in plumage and size from 

 the female. The male has a larger bill (39-43 mm.), longer 

 wing (192-206 mm.), and the underparts washed with grey. 

 The female has a shorter bill (32-35 mm.), shorter wing (184- 

 187 mm.), the hinder part of the crown buff or light rufous, 

 and the underparts usually reddish-brown or slightly washed 

 with grey. 



Count Salvadori says the plumage of the sexes is alike, 

 but, as noted above, I am sure that this is an error, as the 

 female procured on the Mimika appears to be a perfectly 

 adult bird, and specimens kindly lent to me by the Tring 

 Museum support this view. 



