CHLAMYDODERA X ANT HOG ASTRA. 



YELLOW-BREASTED BOWER-BIRD. 



SERICULUS XANTHOGASTER, Schlegel, Tijdsch. Dierk. (1871) pt. v. p. 50. 

 CHLAMYDODERA XANTHOGASTRA, Elliot, Ibis (1872), p. 113. 



Hab. New Guinea (Rosenberg). 



This new species was procured by M. von Rosenberg in the interior of New Guinea, where he lately succeeded in 

 penetrating ; and he has the proud satisfaction of being the only European who has ever reached the mountain-districts 

 of that little-known land. Prof. Schlegel, who described this bird, states that "the researches made in the spring of 

 1870 in the interior of the northern part of New Guinea have made us acquainted with this species, sent by M. von 

 Rosenberg under the name of 0 rial us xanthog aster. In placing it in the genus Sericulus I have in view the particular 

 structure of the feathers of the head, of the neck, and mantle — a character exclusively belonging to Sericulus, and one 

 not observed in the Loriots. We possess a male and two females of this bird, both having the same system of 

 coloration. The Sericulus xanthog aster is of the style of the Sericulus aureus, also originating in the northern 

 part of the island of New Guinea, although our travellers have never met with it there." 



In 'The Ibis' for 1872 I placed this bird in the genus Chlamydodera ; for it is very different from the only- 

 species of the genus Sericulus to which Prof. Schlegel considered it belonged. In structure it is a true Bower- 

 bird, and is nearest the Chlamydodera cervineiventris (Gould), to which, indeed, it assimilates in the colouring of its 

 plumage ; and, like all the species of this genus, there is little or no difference between the sexes as regards their 

 dress, while the female of Sericulus melinus is coloured altogether differently from the male. That the present species 

 also builds a bower I have not the slightest doubt, although its discoverer does not mention having seen any such 

 structure. 



Upper part of head and neck light brown, darkest in the centre of the feathers. Mantle covering the upper 

 part of the back dark brown, with the shafts yellow. Rest of upper parts dark rufous brown, centre of the 

 feathers on the back bright yellow. Wings rufous brown. Tail lighter brown than the back. Shafts rufous. 

 Cheeks and throat light rufous brown. Entire underparts bright golden-yellow. Bill and feet and tarsi black. 



Both sexes are alike in the colour of their plumage. 



The description is taken from the type in the Leyden Museum kindly lent to me by Prof. Schlegel. 



