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Show 1876.] MR. P. L. SCLATER O N BIRDS FROM N E W GUINEA. 459 5. On the Birds collected by Dr. Comrie on the South-east Coast of New Guinea during the Survey of H.M.S. 'Basilisk/ By P. L. SCLATER, M.A., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. [Received M a y 15, 1876.] (Plates XLII. & XLIII.) Dr. Comrie has placed in my hands for determination some bird-skins collected by him while serving as medical officer in H.M.S. ' Basilisk,' during its recent survey of the south-east coast of New Guinea under the command of Capt. Moresby*. The collection contains thirteen skins, belonging to eleven species, of which one is quite new to science, and two others are only known from single specimens. Their names are as follows :- 1. CORVUS ORRU, Bp. One example from Huon Gulf, south-east coast of New Guinea, nearly opposite New Britain. Head of Manucodia comrii. 2. MANUCODIA COMRII, sp. nov. (Plate XLII.) Nitidissime sericeo-aneo-viridis, fere unicolor, in ventre purpu-rascens: capitis cervicisque undique plumis revolutis quasi cincinnatis: alis caudaque intus nigris, extus dorso concoloribus, paulo in purpureum trahentibus: rostro elongato, ad nares sulcato, nigro: pedibus nigris: long, tota 17*0, ala 9*5, caudce 7*0, rostri a rictu 2*2, tarsi 1*7. Hab. Papuae reg. meiidionali-orientalis, Huan-Gulf (Comrie). This is by far the finest, and largest of the peculiar genus now generally termed Manucodia (formerly Phonygama) yet discovered. It is immediately distinguishable from M. chalybeia and M. atra by * See Capt. Moresby's narrative in his ' Discoveries and Surveys in N ew Guinea and the D'Entrecastreux Islands.' London : 1870. 1 vol. 8vo. |
