1896.] Birds of New Guinea. 285 



quent barrenness of the rocks would be incomprehensible. 

 And had coral animals and large plants capable of producing 

 such masses of limestone and graphite existed so early, the 

 absence of any fossils earlier than the Cambrian would be in- 

 explicable. It is acknowledged, however, that such formations 

 might have been produced by inorganic agencies, and the facts 

 strongly indicate that such was their origin, and that fossils 

 began to be preserved very shortly after the power in animals 

 to secrete hard skeletons appeared. 



! OF NEW GUINEA (FLY CATCHERS AND 

 OTHERS). 



(Continued from page 195.) 



The Thickheads (Pachycephala) are of many species and 

 scattered widely over the Archipelago. Many have come 

 under trained observation only during recent years. Prob- 

 ably many more await discovery. 



Pachycephalopsis poliosoma, Gray Thickhead, was discovered 

 by Mr. A. Goldie in Southeastern New Guinea, and owing to 

 its distinctive coloration was classed as a new genus. It is 

 really one of a group of birds which might form a subgenus 

 and is accordingly so divided by Mr. Gadow. Above the gen- 

 eral color is dark gray, almost brown, with the head still 

 darker. The square, rather short tail is also dull of hue. Be- 

 neath is dull gray, lighter on the abdomen and tail coverts, 

 whitish to white on the jugulum, throat, chin and side face. 

 It is a pretty, soft colored little bird about 6 inches long, suffi- 

 cientlv numerous among the mountains of the Astrolabe 

 range to be called common. 



Pachycephala melanara ranges widely over Northern Aus- 

 tralia and the Archipelago. The general color above is olive- 

 green ; wing coverts, tail, head and an irregular band passing 



