56 On certain Species of the Corvidae and Paradiseidse. 
Mr. Sharpe has described (Cat. Birds, hi. p. 181) a bird from 
Aleya, on the south-eastern coast of New Guinea, as Phony- 
gama jamesi, separating it from the P. keraudreni, from its 
having the general colour above and below burnished green 
instead of burnished steel-blue. I have had the opportunity, 
through the kindness of my friend Prof. Salvadori, of exam¬ 
ining specimens of P. keraudreni from the Am Islands, from 
Ramoi, on the west coast of New Guinea, opposite Salwatty, 
and from Yule Island, on the south-east coast of New 
Guinea, quite close to Aleya, whence came the so-called P. 
jamesi. These specimens, from such distant localities, are ab¬ 
solutely identical, except that the Yule-lsland bird has less 
of the green gloss on the back than the others, and slightly 
more on the throat and breast. These variations are only such 
as are to be expected among examples of birds having a metallic 
plumage, and are at times carried to an extreme degree. I 
observed similar variations, when writing my monograph of 
the Paradiseidse, in specimens of P. keraudreni, as I consider 
them, from Australia and New Guinea; for while the former 
are usually of a more green plumage, I have seen them with 
a purple gloss; and I consider it not improbable that a large 
series of these birds from contiguous localities would exhibit 
a graduation from the blue P. keraudreni to the green so- 
called P. gouldi. I am inclined, therefore, to consider that 
the Phonygama jamesi is not really distinct, Mr. Sharpens 
type having possibly a little more green lustre on parts of its 
plumage than western New-Guinea specimens—although from 
the description I should think not, as it agrees perfectly with 
Beccari^s Aru-Island bird, now before me. 
I will add that I have compared the Yule-Island bird with 
Lesson’s type of P. keraudreni from Dorey, and that, if there is 
any difference. Lesson’s bird is a little more green upon the 
back, which would bring it nearer to P. jamesi, thus showing 
that these tints are not to be depended upon for specific cha¬ 
racters ; for if there are two species. Lesson’s type ought toJ| 
be the bluer. ffl 
The types of Manucodia jobiensis have been placed in mylj 
hands for examination by Prof. Salvadori. They represent, ll| 
