210 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, fyc. 
October 29th, 1858.” This island, which lies westward of the 
southern extremity of Gilolo, has not hitherto been much visited 
by naturalists. Mr. Wallace has made a great discovery here, which 
we hope may recompense him for his disappointments at Havre- 
Dorey. Who w T ould have thought of a Paradise-bird, and more¬ 
over of a new form, being found so far away from the mainland 
of Papua ? Yet such is the fact; a communication on this 
subject was made to the last Meeting of the Zoological Society*, 
and Mr. G. 11. Gray has proposed to confer the title of Paradisea 
(, Semioptera) wallacii on the new species. Mr. Wallace has 
lately forwarded a few bird-skins from Amboyna, among which 
are Lorius ruber, the true Geoffroius personatus, and Halcyon 
lazuli (Temm,). The collection made at Havre-Dorey has also 
just arrived, and contains some of the most splendid birds imagi¬ 
nable, all in the finest condition. Among the Parrots are a new 
Charmosyna > Eos fuscata , Eclectus cardinalis, Lorius tricolor, 
Geoffroius puckerani 6 et $, Cyclopsitta desmaresti, and Micro- 
glossa aterrima . There are many rare types, and several new 
species, of which we are glad to say Mr. G. R. Gray has under¬ 
taken the task of description. From Havre-Dorey comes Goura 
coronata, while, according to Mr. Wallace’s information, Goura 
victories is from the island of Jobief. Mr. Wallace’s private 
* “ Zoological Society, Tuesday, March 22nd.—Mr. S. Stevens read 
an extract from a letter received by him from Mr. A. R. Wallace, dated 
‘ Batchian, Moluccas, Oct. 29, 1858/ in which Mr. Wallace stated that 
he had the finest and most wonderful bird in the islands—a new Bird of 
Paradise, of a new genus, quite unlike anything yet known. Mr. Wallace 
enclosed a rough sketch of the bird. Mr. G. R. Gray having had the 
above sketch placed in his hands for examination and comparison with 
the other known species of Paradisea, agreed with Mr. Wallace that it is 
an entirely new form, differing from all its congeners, approaching most 
nearly to the King Bird of Paradise; but, in place of the lengthened caudal 
appendages, it has springing from the lesser covert of each wing two long 
shafts, each being webbed with white on each side at the apex. The 
possession of these peculiar winged standards induced Mr. G. R. Gray to 
propose the subgeneric name Semioptera; and he further added the pro¬ 
visional specific name of wallacii, in commemoration of the indefatigable 
energy Mr. Wallace had hitherto shown in the advancement of ornitho¬ 
logical knowledge .”—(Literary Gazette, March 26th.) 
t See Mr. Wallace’s letter in the ‘ Zoologist ’ for March last. 
