﻿strongly indented, prevents from escaping. "We observed several individuals flying and 

 skimming along the little rivulets which fall into the harbour at Dorery in New Guinea. 

 The Papuan natives call it torutoro, doubtless with reference to its cry." 



I have always thought this account of Lesson's of the present species feeding on fish, 

 and flying over the rivers untrustworthy, as it is so contrary to what would be expected 

 of the bird, and directly in opposition to my ideas on the nature of the birds' habits. My 

 opinion is confirmed by the following note which Mr. Wallace has given me concerning it. 



He observes: — " This species was always rare, and I know nothing about its habits, 

 except that it occurred in thick forest, in similar places to those frequented by the Tanysipterce 

 which it appears somewhat to resemble in its habits." According to the little we know 

 too of the economy of the allied species, S.fiavirostris^ from Australia, we should certainly 

 expect the present bird to be strictly confined to the forest. 



The front figure in the accompanying plate represents a very fine female from "Waigiou 

 in Mr. Wallace's collection, while the distant bird is a male also in his collection, from the 

 Aru Islands. I have taken my description and measurements from these specimens. 



