DICTUM EXIMIUM, Sclater. 
Brown Dicaium. 
Dicosum eximium, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 102, pi. xiv. fig. 2. 
The home of this beautiful little bird, justly named eximimn, is New Ireland, where it was procured by 
Mr. George Brown in March 1876. In describing the bird, Dr. Sclater remarked that it was different 
from any species known to him ; and in looking over my series of Dicfeidte, I cannot find any single one 
which approaches it in style of coloration. Indeed it is seldom that such a very distinct species comes to 
our notice in these days ; and we may fairly suppose that the group of islands where Mr. Brown worked 
will yield many further discoveries in natural science as they become better explored. 
I have copied below the original description given by Dr. Sclater ; and I can scarcely agree with him that 
the Dicieum oeneurn of Messrs. Jacquimot and Pucheran (Voy. Pole Sud, Zool. iii. p. 97) is likely to turn out 
to be the female of the present bird. The last-named species is said to have been procured in the Solomon 
Islands ; and perhaps a translation of the description may be useful for comparison. It is as follows : — 
Grey, with bronzy reflections on the head, back, and upper wing-coverts ; throat white, somewhat tinged 
with yellow, this yellow colour being a little more pronounced on the thorax ; middle of abdomen white, the 
sides yellowish olive ; quills blackish above, with the inner webs edged with clear greyish ; under wing- 
coverts white, and the wing below ashy grey ; the grey colour occupies also the sides of the neck, and 
impinges somewhat on the median line ; quills blue-black, duller below ; their coverts in the latter sense 
are yellow, somewhat inclining to whitish ; the iris is yellow' ; bill and feet blue-black, with a little yellow r 
at the base of the low'er mandible. 
The following is Dr. Sclater’s original diagnosis of D. eximium : — Above dark bronzy green, the crown 
and sides of the head browner ; rump crimson ; under surface of body white, with a narrow pectoral band 
of crimson ; sides of body and middle of belly dusky slate-colour ; the flanks bronzy, as on the back ; under 
wing-coverts white. Total length 33 inches, wing 20, tail TO. 
The figure in the Plate is taken from the type specimen lent to me by Dr. Sclater, to whom, and to 
the Marquis of Tweeddale, I am under great obligations for allowing me to figure so many of the fine 
novelties discovered by Mr. George Brown. 
