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Show 558 MR. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM NEW GUINEA. [June 17, the adult male in company with females or young birds, but always in the thickest parts of the forests. The female and young male birds I have generally found in a much lower zone. This Paradise-bird is very noisy, uttering a note like " Gnaad-gnaad." It feeds upon various kinds of fruits, more especially on a species of fig which is very plentiful in the mountain-ranges ; at other times I have observed it feeding on a small kind of nutmeg. To clean its rich plumage, this bird is in the habit, where the ground is dry, to scrape, like a gallinaceous bird, a round place clear of all grass and leaves, and in the dust produced by the clearing to roll over and over again-at the same time crying out, extending and contracting its plumage, elevating the brilliant silvery crest on the upper part of the head, and also the six remarkable plumes from which it derives the specific name of sexpennis. On seeing its eccentric movements at this time, and hearing its cries, one would believe it to be engaged in a fight with some imaginary enemy. This bird is named " Coran-a " by the natives. I have also a skeleton of a young male of this species, which, although not in a perfect state, m ay no doubt be interesting as showing the form of the cranium, on which there is an admirable muscular structure which enables the bird to elevate the feathers of the head. The feathers at the nape of the neck exhibit, when the rays of light strike upon them, a rich and brilliant metallic hue. The eyes are of a light blue, with a circle of a pale yellowish green colour. 2. LOPHORINA ATRA. This bird, like the preceding, is very little known except from imperfect specimens. It is found in the same mountains as the last-named species, and feeds upon similar fruits. It flies from branch to branch in the forests, uttering a cry of " Nied-Nied," and from this peculiar note is named by the natives " Niedda." The muscles used in the elevation of the crest of P. sexpennis are surprising, but are surpassed in size by those of this bird; for with them it can extend, contract, elevate, and depress the long velvety feathers which, commencing a little below the occiput, extend along the body like a mantle; and when these are elevated the two feathers, horns, or tufts at the root of the beak are raised at the same time. 3. EPIMACHUS MAXIMUS. I can only send a young bird of this species. It lives on the highest mountains, and is very common there, according to the statement of the natives, but was very rare in the district I visited. It feeds upon fruits. 4. [DREPANORNIS ALBERTISI, sp. nov.*] This will probably prove to be a new bird, both generically and specifically. It is very rare, and many of the natives did not know it; but others called it " Quarna." * Vide infra, p. 560. |