317. ARDETTA SINENSIS.

Ardetta sinensis (Gm.); Salvad. t. c. p. 354; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 24.

a. . Abai, Feb. 18, 1886.

[Scarce, frequenting reed-beds in rivers. It often sits stretched upright until you are within a few yards, in which position this small Heron is about as narrow a bird as can be imagined.

Iris bright yellow; bill black, lower mandible yellow; feet and legs green, yellow behind.]

318. NYCTICORAX GRISEUS.

Nycticorax griseus (L.); Salvad. t. c. p. 356. a. d. Labuan, June 25, 1886.

Mr. Motley obtained this species in Banjermassing. This is the first record for Labuan.

[Only one specimen seen, which was brought to me by a native in Labuan. I had a shot at an undoubted N. griseus, in adult plumage, on the Benkoka River.]

Fam. CICONIIDE.

319. LEPTOPTILUS JAVANICUS.

Leptoptilus javanicus (Horsf.); Salvad. t. c. p. 358; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 272.

a. . Abai, N. Borneo, Feb. 24, 1886.

[Iris dull grey; neck pale yellow, spotted with black; bill dirty white; feet black.

Generally seen only where the plains are of very great extent, standing about solitary, sometimes settling on low trees.]

Order ANSERES.

Fam. ANATIDE.

320. MARECA PENELOPE.

Mareca penelope (L.); Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 24.

a. Ad. Tampassuk.

The Wigeon has only been met with once before in Borneo, Mr. Everett having procured a specimen near Bintulu in November 1875.

[I came across a small flock of Wigeon on the Tampussuk plain, two of which I shot, one a male just getting the adult plumage.

This is the only time I met with Ducks in the East.]

Fam. PELECANIDE.

321. FREGATA MINOR.

Fregata minor (Gm.); Salvad. t. c. p. 364. a. ad. Labuan, July 8, 1886.

[Fairly common off the coast of Borneo, especially during high winds. This bird has a wonderfully steady flight, often remaining for hours high in the air without apparently moving its wings. The natives in Palawan believe that it lives on air.

Bill greyish blue; iris black; pouch reddish pink.]

322. PLOTUS MELANOGASTER.

Plotus melanogaster (Penn.); Salvad. t. c. p. 367; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 353.

a, b. ♂ . Benkoka River, Sept. 27, 1885.

[See my notes in 'The Ibis' for October 1888, p. 412.]

323. STERNA BERGII.

Fam. LARIDE.

Sterna cristata, Steph.; Salvad. t. c. p. 376.

Sterna bergii, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 353.

a. . Labuan, July 1886.

?.

[Fairly common on the coast, where I believe it to be a resident species.]

324. ANOUS LEUCOCAPILLUS.

Anous leucocapillus, Gould; Sharpe, Ibis, 1878, p. 415. a. . Padas, June 2, 1886.

First met with in Borneo off Sarawak by the late Governor Ussher. Mr. Everett has also procured Anons stolidus.

[I picked this bird up one evening on the shore, where it was resting, apparently much fatigued. Another settled on the awning of a steamer off the coast one evening.

Iris, bill, and feet black; inside of mouth yellow.]

[To be continued.]

SER. VI.-VOL. II.

M

XIV.-Notes on the Paradise-birds of British New Guinea. By A. P. GOODWIN, of Lismore, N.S.W.

In the early part of 1889 I left my home on the Richmond River for the purpose of visiting New Guinea, where I intended to spend a few months in collecting ornithological specimens and in acquiring for myself that knowledge of the feathered tribes which can only be gained by personal observation.

I arrived at Port Moresby at a very favourable moment, for only a few days after my landing I had an opportunity of joining an exploring party whose object was to reach the summit of Mount Owen Stanley. The leader of the expedition was Sir William Macgregor, then Governor or Administrator of that recently acquired British colony. I gladly embraced the opportunity, and it is sufficient here to say that I made the journey along with Sir William as far as Mount Musgrave, where he left some members of the expedition, while he himself, with a few select followers, made a successful ascent of Mount Owen Stanley *.

On his return to Mount Musgrave I again joined His Excellency on his homeward march, which was also successfully accomplished.

During that short and decisive trip into the heart of British New Guinea I was fortunate enough to meet with examples of twelve different species of Paradise-birds, a short account of which will, I think, be interesting to those who have not had the opportunity of seeing these splendid birds in their native haunts.

Our expedition followed the course of the Vanapa River, on the banks of which we heard the cry of the Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucides niger), but, time not permitting us to go hunting, we did not procure a specimen of this, one of the finest birds of the whole family. The Twelve-wired Paradise-bird inhabits the swampy districts near the coast, where it is not easily obtained. Its call can be heard at a

* See Proc. Roy. Geogr. Soc. 1889, p. 605, for an account of this expedition.

long distance and is a double note, difficult to imitate even by the natives.

Leaving the Vanapa River, we ascended the lower mountains, where we encountered the King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), of which we secured several specimens during our first day's march. This was the first time I had seen this little bird in all its beauty. Its legs, when it is alive, are of a clear cobalt-blue colour. I had previously only seen prepared specimens, in which the legs become black and shrivelled. I found it to be a restless little creature, not easily seen in the dense scrub, nor was it met with above an altitude of 2000 feet. Its food consists of seeds and berries, of which there is abundance in this locality.

The next Paradise-bird met with was the Raggi's Paradisebird (Paradisea raggiana), which is also found on the lower ranges of the mountains, and is rarely ever seen above an altitude of 3000 feet. One evening I observed a number of this species flying from one tree to another, evidently feeding and dancing, as I am told is their habit. P. raggiana lives on fruit, which generally grows on high trees in Papua ; and as nature has provided these birds with a thick skin to keep their long plumage from falling out, it requires a strong charge of the gun to bring them to the ground. It is to be regretted that the long red plumes soon lose their brightness after death.

We came across the magnificent Rifle-bird (Ptilorhis magnifica) on Mount Kowald, as also on Mount Belford, at an altitude of 3000 feet and over. This bird haunts the dense scrub, usually in the neighbourhood of the running streams. It is solitary and wild and shy, requiring some skill to secure it. On Mount Belford, at the altitude of 4900 feet, we first heard the call of Lawes's Paradise-bird (Parotia lawesi), the local form of the Six-wired Bird of Paradise, but did not succeed in obtaining a specimen until we had crossed the Joseph River and ascended Mount Musgrave to the same altitude. Here I secured an example of this beautiful bird. Our camp was near one of their play-grounds, so I had a good

opportunity of watching this bird's movements.

It has a

strong resemblance to the Silky Bower-bird of New South Wales (Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus) both in form and habits. It has a similar bill, beautiful blue eyes, and strong legs, and, like the Bower-bird, is very cautious, restless, and swift. It has also a similar flight. Although P. lawesi does not build a bower, still it has its play-ground, where a number of these birds (from six to eight) may be found playing together. The play-ground may be easily known by the colour of the soil and by the clearance of the surrounding underbrush.

The Sickle-billed Paradise-bird (Drepanornis cervinicauda) resorts to the same zone, but is very seldom seen. We were unable to sight one, although we heard its call several times during our stay in the mountains. It keeps to the topmost branches of the highest trees, where it pours out its song, which is said to resemble that of the Nightingale.

At an altitude of 5000 feet we came across the Superb Bird of Paradise (Lophorhina minor). This species flutters about on the highest perches it can find, and looks no larger than a butterfly. It is needless to say that few specimens of it were secured. Its call is similar to that of Parotia lawesi, but is not so strong. The most striking feature of this beautiful little bird is its cape, which it has the power to expand so as to form a half-circle over its back. On Mount Musgrave, at an altitude of 6000 feet, we also came across a fine species of Epimachus (E. macleayana). Up to that time only one specimen of this splendid bird was known. This had been discovered two years previously by Mr. Belford, who was at this time one of our party. This specimen had been sent to Sydney, where Dr. Ramsay, of the Australian Museum, had described it. This bird differs materially from Epimachus maximus in that the breast and flank-feathers are of a rusty colour shaded with purple. It inhabits the mountain regions at an altitude of from 6000 to 9000 feet, above which no Paradise-birds were found. The call of E. macleayane is a shrill double note, similar to the striking of a pair of clappers.