some new Paradise-birds. 
247 
It is especially the form of the tail that gives ns the 
opportunity of separating this new species generically, inas¬ 
much as the subdivision of the Paradise-birds into genera has 
now-a-days been carried to so great an extent, whether 
rightly or wrongly we need not at the present moment 
inquire. The webs of the two central tail-feathers (about 
10 centimetres broad and 64 long) are arched upwards 
towards one another so as to form a sort of open channel; 
towards the ends their edges approach so near one another 
as to constitute a broadened pipe; the webs of the lateral 
feathers are similarly turned up, but to a less extent. While 
the tail of Astrapia nigra is regularly graduated, in that of 
Astrarchia the graduation is irregular. But besides this, the 
deviations from Astrapia are so numerous that the generic 
separation can be well substantiated. 
In Astrarchia Stephanies the lengthened feathers of the 
chin are wanting, and the feathers of the neck-shield are 
not curved upwards, but smooth and recumbent. Besides, 
in Astrarchia the large lateral head-plumes are wanting, 
although the corresponding feathers are somewhat elongated. 
Again, the metallic band from the eye down the neck to the 
breast and the green band at the back of the neck are both 
absent, besides which there are other minor differences in 
coloration, which it is not necessary to enumerate. It need 
only be remarked that the colour of the middle tail-feathers 
is more blue in Astrapia nigra than in Astrarchia Ste¬ 
phanies. 
We have only the male of this species, which has been 
named by Finsch after the Archduchess Stephanie, Crown- 
Princess of Austria. 
8. Efimachus meyeri, Finsch, sp. nov. 
Fern. Supra brunnescenti-olivacea; capitis plumis obscure 
fuscis, rufo marginatis, nucha rufescente ; loris et capitis 
lateribus nigrescentibus, clarius variegatis; gutture 
iisdem coloribus, sed subtiliter transfasciolato ; corpore 
subtus et subalaribus fasciis alternis nigrescentibus et 
brunnescenti-albidis ornatis ; alis dorso concoloribus, 
subtus fuscis; cauda olivacea, supra vix brunnescente 
