AILURCEDUS ARFAKIANUS. 
Arfak Cat-bird. 
Mlurcedns melanotis, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 697 (nec Gray), 
■ arfakianus, Meyer, Sitz. Akad. Wien, Ixix. p. 82. 
It will be seen, on reference to the synonymy, that Dr. Sclater considered the Cat-bird collected by Signor 
d’ Albertis in the Arfak mountains to be the same as Ailurcedus melanotis of the Arru Islands ; consequently 
in his list of New-Guinea birds, published in the ‘ Proceedings,’ it is given under that name. Dr. Meyer, 
on the other hand, has separated them ; but, although I have followed Meyer rather than Sclater, I am not 
altogether satisfied as to the correctness of this viewy and fear it must remain for future observers, to 
O 
determine this point. I may, how'ever, state that the Arfak bird is much more strongly coloured, the spots 
being blacker and more sparkling ; to which it must be added that it is of smaller size. I regret that 
nothing is knowai of the habits of the bird, or even of its distribution in Ne\v Guinea. It w'ill not be long, 
however, before the ornithological secrets of this term incognita will be laid bare ; and we may expect 
that, when the interior of this great island is explored, not only will the ranges of many well-known species 
he extended, but new forms even of Bower-birds will be discovered. Each new traveller adds some striking 
novelty or other to the ornithological series ; and there is probably no country in the world which will 
yield such a rich harvest of unknown species as New Guinea. 
I must refer my readers to the accompanying Plate for a correct idea of the present species, as Signor 
d’Albertis’s hurried departure for Italy with his collections gave me no time to describe the bird in 
detail. 
The figure is of the natural size. 
