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Show 1889.] MR. A. P. GOODWIN ON SOME PARADISE-BIRDS. 451 of the head and the trunk are described under the name of Squatina crassidens (Catal. Foss. Fishes B. M . pt. i. p. 69, pi. ii.); they are broad and acuminate, compressed antero-po9teriorly, and fixed upon a depressed base; the crown is marked by large vertical wrinkles, and its median portion is produced downwards anteriorly over the root. In its dentition, Scleroi'hynchus thus approaches the living Pristiophorus more closely than Pristis, though differing from both these types in the striation of the dental crown. The arrangement of the rostral cartilages, however, is sufficient justification for still retaining the extinct Cretaceous genus in its provisional position among the Pristidae, of which it is the least specialized type hitherto discovered." Mr. A. P. Goodwin laid on the table examples of some rare Paradise-birds procured during Sir William Macgregor's recent expedition to Mount Owen-Stanley, New Guinea; also several photographs, comprising views of Mount Owen-Stanley, of a native bridge, and of the bowers of some species of Bower-birds met with on this occasion. Mr. Goodwin made the following remarks:-"The most noteworthy of these birds is a pair of Epimachus macleayance, lately described by Dr. E. P. Ramsay, Curator of the Australian Museum, Sydney, in the ' Proceedings ' of the Linnean Society of N e w South Wales, ser. 2, vol. ii. p. 239. The type specimen was obtained some two years previously by one of Sir William's party in the Maroka district. This Epimachus inhabits the mountain-regions of this district at an altitude of from 6000 to 9000 feet; above that no Paradise-birds were found by the party, save one Bower-bird which I will mention hereafter. "The call of E. macleayance is a shrill double-note, similar to the sound produced by striking a pair of clappers together. " The next bird is a female of Astrarchia stephaniee, which was originally discovered in the same locality. Not having been so fortunate as to see this bird alive, I am able to give you but little information about it; but it is somewhat remarkable that no specimens were obtained after the party had been in camp two days, nor was there any adult male seen by any of the party. " Among the photographs taken on this occasion are : - A view of Mount Owen-Stanley, taken from Mount Musgrave, at a distance estimated at eight miles ; also one of a tribe of the natives who live in the mountains; and one of a native bridge, 195 feet long, which spans the Vanappa River. I also call your attention to two interesting views of Bower-birds' bowers. One of these belongs to Amblyornis subalaris; and the other, found at a higher altitude, up to 10,000 feet, is of a species which I propose to call Amblyornis musgravii. Several specimens of this bird were obtained. It is similar to, but larger than, A. subalaris, which was procured on Mount Belford at an altitude of 4000 feet." |