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Show 1880.] ON BIRDS FROM DUKE-OF-YORK ISLAVD. 65 6. O n a Fifth Collection of Birds made by the Rev. G. Brown, C.M.Z.S., on Duke-of-York Island and in its Vicinity. By P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society 1. [Received January 30, 1880.] (Plates VI.-VIII.) I have again the pleasure of laying before the Society a collection of bird-skins formed by the Rev. G. Brown, our Corresponding- Member at Duke-of-York Island. The series on this occasion is not large, but there are several specimens of interest in it. The following is a list of the species represented in it. They are all from Kabakadai, on the coast of N ew Britain. 1. Megalurus inter scapular is, sp. nov. 2. Pcecilodryas cethiops, sp. nov. 3. Myzomela cineracea, Sclater. 4. Munia melcsna, sp. nov. 5. Corvus orru, Bp. 6. Dendrochelidon mystacea (Less.). 7. Halcyon sancta, Vig. et Horsf. 8. Eclectus polychlorus (Scop.). 9. Falco severus, Horsf. 10. Rallus pectoralis, Less. 1 1. Rallus insiynis, sp. nov. 12. Amaurornis moluccana (Wallace). 13. Nycticorax caledonicus (Gin.). The new species may be described as follows :- 1. MEGALURXIS INTERSCAPULARIS, sp. nov. (Plate VI.) Supra terreno-brunneus, pileo antico rufescente; interscapulio nigro fammulato ; alis intus nigricantibus, remigum marginibus externis pallide rufescentibus et fusco obsolete transfasciolatis ; subtus albus, lateribus et crisso in fuscum transeuntibus ; cauda pallide fused, e rectricibus rigidis et valde gradualis compositd, harum scapis nigricantibus ; rostro corneo, ad basin albicante ; pedibus corylinis. Long, tota 8, alee 2*8, caudce rectr. ext. 1*9, med. 4*3, tarsi 1. Hab. in ins. Nova Britannia (Brown). This bird belongs apparently to the genus Megalurus, and is allied to M. galactodes of Australia2; but is distinguishable by its larger size, the want of superciliary stripes, and the body being white below. I can only detect eight tail-feathers ; but it is quite probable that two external ones may have been lost. 1 See report on the first collection, P.Z.S. 1877, p. 96, second collection, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 289, third collection, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 670, and fourth collection, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 446. 2 Sphenmacus galactodes, Gould, B. Austr. iii. pl, xxxv. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1880, No. V. 5 |