ORNITHOLOGY OF SECTION D, 1850. 
A BRIEF ACCOUNT 
OF 
THE RESEARCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
or 
JOHN M‘GILLIVRAY, Esa. 
THE NATURALIST ATTACHED TO H. M. SURVEYING SHIP THE RATTLESNAKE, 
NORTH-EASTERN COASTS OF AUSTRALIA, NEW GUINEA, & 
BY 
JOHN GOULD, F.R.S., &. 

Ir is no less interesting to the scientific world than it is just to 
the commanders and naturalists of our exploring expeditions, that 
the results of their labours should be made known as speedily 
as possible. It affords me therefore yery great pleasure, to cot- 
municate to the present meeting, by desire of Sir H. De la 
Beehe and Professor Forbes, an account of the Quadrupeds and 
Birds procured and observed by Mr. John M‘Gillivray, the Na- 
turalist attached to Her Majesty’s Surveying Ship Rattlesnake, 
employed under the command of the late Captain Owen Stanley; 
in exploring the eastern and northern coasts of Australia. 
In the introduction to my “ Birds of Australia,’ which I pre 
sume is known to many of my hearers, I have recorded an opinion, 
that a considerable number of species frequenting the north coast 
of that country yet remained to be made known to us, but I cov 
fess that I was not prepared for the novelties which have rewarded 
Mr. MGillivray’s researches, nor to find so many fine species 
hitherto supposed to be peculiar to New Guinea, to be equally com 
mon to the fauna of Australia. 
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