MANUCODIA COMRII, Sclater. 
Curl-crested Manucode. 
Manucodia comrii, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876 , p. 459 , pi. xlii. — Id. Ibis, 1876 , p. 364 . — Salvad. Ann. Mas. Gen. 
ix. p. 191 ( 1876 ). — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1877 , p. 43 . — Gould, B. New Guin. i. pi. 33 ( 1877 ). — Ramsay, Proc. 
Linn. Soc. N. S. W. iv. p. 469 ( 1879 ). — Eudes-Deslongch. Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. Caen, i. p. 47 ( 1880 ). — 
Salvad. Orn. Papuasia, ii. p. 491 ( 1881 ). — Sharpe, Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool. xvi. p. 442 ( 1882 ). — 
Salvad. Orn. Papuasia, hi. p. 551 ( 1882 ). — Musschenbr. Dagboek, pp. 196 , 230 ( 1883 ). — Rosenb. 
MT. orn. Ver. Wien, 1885 , p. 40 .— D’Hamonv. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, xi. p. 510 ( 1886 ). — Tristr. 
Ibis, 1889 , p. 554 . — Salvad. Agg. Orn. Papuasia, ii. p. 147 ( 1890 ). — Id. Ann. Mus. Gen. ( 2 ) x. p. 239 
( 1891 ). — Id. Agg. Orn. Papuasia, iii. p. 239 ( 1891 ). — North, Rec. Austr. Mus. ii. p. 32 , pi, vii. ( 1892 ). — - 
Meyer, Abhandl. k. zool. Mus. Dresden, 1892 - 93 , no. 3 , p. 15 ( 1893 ). 
This is the largest species of the Manucotles, and was discovered by Dr. Comrie in Huon Gulf, in South- 
eastern New Guinea, during the cruise of H.M.S. ‘ Basilisk.’ Mr. Gcisler also saw the species in this locality, 
hut did not manage to procure a specimen. Dr. Meyer suggests that a comparison between the birds from 
New Guinea and D’Entrecasteaux Island should he instituted. In the British Museum are specimens from 
both the above-named localities, as well as from Normanby Island, and I cannot perceive the least difference 
between them, in size or colour. Mr. A. Goldie procured several specimens on Fergusson or D’Entre- 
casteaux Island, and the species has been met with in the same locality by Dr. Loria, who also procured it 
on Goodenough Island. 
The following is Dr. Sclater’s original account of the species : — 
“Dr. Comrie has placed in my hands for determination some bird-skins collected by him while serving 
as medical officer in H.M.S. ‘Basilisk’ during its recent survey of the south-east coast of New Guinea 
under the command of Captain Moresby. The collection contains thirteen skins, belonging to eleven 
species, of which one is quite new to science, and two others are only known from single specimens.” 
“This Manucodia” Dr. Sclater continues, “may be regarded as by far the finest and largest species of 
the genus yet discovered. It is immediately distinguishable from M. chalybeia and M. atra by its much 
larger size and longer bill, which is deeply sulcated at the nostrils. The characteristic curling of the 
feathers is extended to a greater degree, and pervades the whole of the head and neck. The feathers of 
the abdomen are black at the base, broadly margined with purple. Dr. Comrie obtained a single specimen 
of this fine bird in May 1874 in Huon Gulf. It was shot flying amongst the trees in the scrubby forest, 
about a quarter of a mile from the coast.” 
The egg of this species is described and figured by Mr. A. J. North in the ‘ Records ’ of the Australian 
Museum for 1892. The photographic illustration which accompanies Mr. North’s paper represents an egg 
of the type of those of the Birds of Paradise with which we have recently been made familiar. 
Mr. North gives the following account of this interesting discovery : — “ The Trustees of the Australian Mu- 
seum have lately received from the Rev. R. H. Rickard the egg of Manucodia comrii, taken by him on Fergusson 
Island, off the south-east coast of New Guinea, in July 1891. The Rev. Mr. Rickard informs me that from 
the 20th of June to the 20th of July he had at various times engaged, in company with his black boy, in 
shooting Manucodes on this island, but rarely saw a female bird. Early in July he found a nest of this species 
in the lower branches of a bread-fruit tree at a height of twenty-five feet from the ground. The female was 
on the nest, which was an open, loosely-made structure of vinelets and twigs, placed at the extremity of the 
branch. Having secured the bird, he found that she was in very indifferent plumage, as though she had been 
sitting for a long time, and the eggs, two in number, were chipped and just upon the point of hatching. The 
egg is an elongate ovoid in form, and is of a warm isabelline ground-colour, with purplish dots, blotches, and 
bold longitudinal streaks, uniformly dispersed over the surface of the shell, intermingled with similar super- 
imposed markings of purplish grey. Length 1*65 inch x 1*13 inch.” 
The following is the description of the type specimen, from Huon Gulf: — 
Adult. Above velvety black, the feathers slightly recurved at the ends, with a subterminal mark of metallic 
green; scapulars metallic steel-green, edged with velvety black; lesser and median wing-coverts steel- 
green, shot with purple, with a narrow fringe of velvety black; greater coverts, primary-coverts, and quills 
