BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA (FLY CATCHERS AND 

 OTHERS). 



By G. S. Mead. 



Among the many kinds of Flycatchers {Muscicapidse) in- 

 habiting the Papuan Islands, while there is dissimilarity in so 

 large a number of species, yet there are not those striking dif- 

 ferences amounting almost to contrasts which characterize 

 birds of greater size. Many species have been unnoticed by 

 travellers and other writers ; many exist only in cabinets and 

 collections, labelled and ticketed, or at most given a few lines 

 of technical summarization in catalogues. With the rank 

 and file of birds anything more than this is impossible. 

 Sometimes a particularly attractive specimen of Mahain or 

 Rhipidura or Pratincola calls attention to itself, or mere acci- 

 dent brings an individual to the notice of the explorer or 



Thus Mr. Wallace notes pointedly " the abnormal red and 

 black flycatcher," Peltops blainrillii, so named by Lesson and 

 Garnot many years since. It is a sprightly, highly colored 

 bird with the predominant hues strongly contrasted and still 

 further accentuated by spots of white on the head and beneath 

 the wings. In flight this active little flycatcher presents in 

 turn these conspicuous markings with striking effect. The 

 red tint is a bright crimson spread over the lower back and 

 tail coverts. The main color is a steely-green black covering 

 with greater or less intensity the seven inches of total length. 

 The genus is represented by this species only. 



The same notable expedition to South Eastern New Guinea 

 that secured the two beautiful prizes Cnemophilus macgregorii 

 and Amblyomis musgramanus, discovered also a new species of 

 flycatcher, viz., Rhipidura auricularis. It is described as hav- 

 ing the " upper surface smoky gray ; head brownish black ; 

 tail the same above and below ; bill dark brown ; legs black." 

 The head is marked by black and white stripes, found upon 

 the wings as well. Upon the chin, throat and breast similar 



