








254, Mr. P. L. Selater on Recent 
Koffiao. A terrestrial Pigeon found at Ansus by Sig. Bruijn’s 
hunters, and another very small terrestrial species of Atam> 
are both of them on the whole nearest to Chalcophaps, and 
probably new. The queen of all the Papuan Pigeons is 
Otidiphaps nobilis, which, though rare, is found in various 
localities, generally close to the sea. It was seen by my 
hunters at Dorey, and is found at Andai and Batanta, and 
seems to have been this year discovered at Mysol. On 
Mount Arfak it is not rare. It has the habits of a Pheasant, 
and is very shy; its note is loud, and resembles that of 
Megapodius. I have got two specimens of this bird; the 
flesh is white and excellent ; it might be easily introduced 
into Europe, as it endures a rather low temperature. Near 
my hut at Atam there were a couple, though the morning 
temperature was often as low as 10° to11°Cent. It lives on 
fleshy fruits, which, in the gizzards of those I examined, be- 
longed to a Myrtaceous plant and to a Syzygium, and were 
mixed with many pebbles. 
“At Jobi I naturally found Goura victoria, but not so 
abundantly as I hoped. It is also found at Kordo and at 
Sowek, but not at Miosnom or Mafor. It is certainly in 
error that Wallace, ‘Malay Arch.’ ii. 190, cites G. coronata 
as an inhabitant of the Aru Islands. I think I told you that 
a Goura was killed in the woods near my house at Amboyna, 
and a Cassowary near the same place; but I cannot be sure 
that they had not been in captivity and had wise to the 
woods. 
“ Talegallus jobiensis and Megapodius PRT a este are easy 
to be distinguished when alive ; but when the skins are dry 
you might easily doubt their being good species. I found a 
nest of Talegallus or Megapodius at more than 6000 feet 
elevation.” 
So much for Dr. Beccari’s ornithological letter, one of the 
most interesting contributions to our favourite science that I 
have ever read. We must now turn to Dr. Salvadori’s 
account of Bruijn’s collection, to which frequent reference 
has been made by Beccari. This, as Dr. Salvadori informs 


