OCR Text |
Show 102 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM [Feb. 20, maculis in gutture et in pectore rotundis, distinctis: habitu generali D. carbonarii: long, tota 11*3, alee 6, caudce rectr. ext. 5*4, med. 4*6. Hab. New Britain (October 1875). This Drongo, of which there is one skin in Mr. Brown's collection, obtained in New Britain in October 1875, belongs strictly to the same group as D. carbonarius of N e w Guinea and D. bracteatus of Australia. I should have been rather inclined to refer it to the former species; but as Mr. Sharpe, who has lately been engaged on this difficult family, points out to me, if D. pectoralis1 of the Sula Islands is to be considered distinct, then this bird must also be allowed equal rank; for in it the round feather-spots on the breast are quite as large and well-marked as in D. pectoralis, and extend moreover over the throat. This appears to be another case of the recurrence of Celebesian forms to the east of N e w Guinea. 14. DICTUM EXIMITJM, sp. nov. (Plate XIV. fig. 2.) Supra saturate eeneo-viride, pileo et capitis lateribus brunnescen-tibus : uropygio coccineo: subtus album, fascia pectorali angusta coccinea : lateribus et ventre medio fuscescenti-schista-ceis, hypochondriis sicut dorso eeneis: subalaribus albis: rostro et pedibus nigris: long, tota 3*3, alee 20, caudce 10. Lfab. New Ireland (March 18/6). This Dicceum is quite distinct from any species known to me. It is just possible that D. ezneum of the ' Voyage au Pole Sud ' may be the female of it. 15. NECTARINIA ASPASIA. Cinnyris aspasia, Less. Voy. Coq. Zool. i. p. 676, Atl. t. 30. fig. 4. Three skins (cf, 6* gr. et $ ) of this Sun-bird from Duke-of- York Island. Mr. Shelley, who is now monographing this beautiful group of birds, kindly sends me the subjoined remarks on them:- " It is most interesting to find the true C. aspasia from Duke-of- York Island. Previously this bird was known to be a native of at least two thirds of the northern portion of New Guinea, and to extend westward to the islands of Popo and Mysol. The specimens from Popo island have a slightly more lilac tinge to the throat, but are not sufficiently distinct in my opinion for specific separation, Lesson's type of C. aspasia came from Havre Dorey ; and specimens received thence agree in every respect with the adult male from Duke-of-York Island, which may be thus described. General plumage blue black; forehead, crown and nape metallic green; least and median series of wing-coverts, the scapulars, the lower half of the back, the upper tail-coverts, and the edges of the tail-feathers metallic green, faintly shaded with steel-blue, in that respect contrasting with the colour of the crown, which is rather golden than blue-green ; beneath, chin and throat steel-blue, very faintly shaded with ljlac. » Wallace, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 342. |