News from New Guinea. 359 
say, with due respect, that he seems to place rather too much 
stress upon the differences existing between local forms of the 
same species, as exhibited in these specimens from the different 
islands of the Bay of Geelvink. That these islands do con- 
tain many very well-marked representative forms (such as 
Goura victorie and Tanysiptera caroline) is certain ; but it by 
no means follows that there are no species in them identical 
with those-of the mainland of New Guinea. 
Of D’Albertis and his doings, since I last wrote, I have had 
many accounts from my excellent friend and correspondent 
Dr. George Bennett, of Sydney. D’Albertis, after accom- 
panying the expedition of Messrs. MacFarlane and Chester up 
the Fly River in the ‘ Ellengowan’ m December last, returned 
to Sydney. to recruit his health. Of his voyage up the Fly 
River, which was ascended for 150 miles*, he has given a very 
interesting account in an article published in the ‘ Sydney 
Morning Herald, from which I extract the following para- 
graphs. Speaking of the country in the neighbourhood of 
the highest point reached, he says :— 
“ Here the wild nutmeg and the gigantic figtrees are seen 
in fruit and luxuriance of foliage, attracting the fruit-eating 
Pigeons (Carpophaga), the Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea 
raggiana), Hornbills (Buceros ruficollis), and other species of 
frugivorous birds in great numbers. At another part are the 
Candle-nut tree (Aleurites) and several species of Canary- 
nut trees (Canarium, on the fruit of which the great Palm 
Cockatoos (Microglossus aterrimus) feed.” 
“‘ Where the jungle is not so dense a small bamboo grows, 
and is a place of resort for the Megapodius and Talegalla, 
being suitable for their food and the construction of their 
nests. Where the forest is more dense it is difficult to pene- 
trate, from the entanglement of the vines and the strong- 
growing climbing palm (Calamus australis ?), which throws 
up shoots of great length, covered with sharp spines, and long 
tendrils, similarly armed, ascending to the tops of the tallest 
trees. At this place we observe the Racket-tailed King- 
fisher (Tanysiptera dea), frequently seen darting with a heavy 
* See Proc. R. Geogr. Soc. March 18th, 1876. 










