CH^TORHYNCHUS PAPUENSIS, 
Arfak Drong’o. 
Chaetorhynchis papuensis, Meyer, Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Ixix, p. 493 (1874). — Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. hi. 
p. 242, pi. xiii. (1877). 
This little species of King Crow or Drongo Shrike was discovered by Dr. Meyer during his visit to New 
Guinea, and, although not a showy bird, is one of great interest to the naturalist, who is ever on the watch 
for forms which evince unexpected affinities to others of a distant habitat. In the present instance we find, 
in the Arfak Mountains of North-western New Guinea, a genus of Drongo which, in size, general form, 
and especially in the scaly nature of its plumage, reminds us forcibly of the small genus Chaptia of India 
and Malayana. In one respect, however, Clmtorhynchus differs not only from Chaptia, but from all other 
genera of the Dicruridcs ; and that is, in the shoulder-spot of white which adorns the New-Guiuea bird. 
The general coloration of the Drongos is black, relieved by a certain gloss or metallic spangles. An 
intermixture of white is of rare occurrence in the family; it occurs, however, in some of the Indian 
species of Buchanga (which have a little white on the lower parts), and is most conspicuous in Dicmrus 
mirahilis of the Philippines (which has a pure white breast and abdomen). 
The Arfak Drongo has a white spot on the shoulders ; but this is by no means a conspicuous feature, as 
may be gathered from the fact that when Dr. Meyer described the species he did not notice it, nor did 
Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, in his ‘ Catalogue of Birds,’ nor did Air. Keulemans when he drew the figure for the 
latter work. Indeed it was only when Dr. Meyer came to have one of the typical specimens mounted for 
the Dresden Museum that the shoulder-spot became suddenly visible ; and its first discovery is due to 
him. I have therefore much pleasure in giving the first accurate figure of ChcBtorhynchus. I find that 
the white spot varies much in size, and is almost absent in some specimens. I have examined the typical 
examples obtained by Dr. Meyer, as well as others procured by M. Laglaize, one of which is in the collection 
of the British Aluseum. 
The following description is given by Mr. Sharpe in the work above alluded to, and is taken from 
one of the original types 
General colour black, with a steely gloss, the head more brightly glossed with steel-green, the feathers 
rounded and somewhat scale-like in appearance ; least wing-coverts steel-black, the median, greater, and 
primary-coverts black, narrowly edged with steel-green ; quills black, the secondaries margined with steel- 
green, the innermost glossed with the latter colour ; tail black, slightly glossed with steel-green on the 
edges of the feathers ; sides of face and under surface of body black, the breast glossed with steel reflections ; 
under wing-coverts greyish black ; bill and feet black. Total length 7 inches, culmen 0’7, wing 4-2, tail 
3’5, tarsus 0*7. 
The figures in the Plate represent the species of the natural size ; they are drawn from the type 
specimens, lent to me by Dr. Meyer. 
