AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES Published by Number 1133 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY August 6, 1941 New York City

BIRDS COLLECTED DURING THE WHITNEY SOUTH SEA EXPEDITION. XLV'

NOTES ON NEW GUINEA . VIII2 BY ERNST MAYR FALCONIDAE

THE GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION OF FALCO PEREGRINt S IN THE PAPU'AN AND AUSTRALIAN REGIONS Work in this is handicappe(d by regular gray bars oIn middle and( lowver the scarcity of material from the tropical back, getting more pronounce(d on rump parts of the range. The Rothschild collec- and upper tail-coverts; throat and breast tion, for example, does not contain a single rather pale with a not very plonounce(l specimen from Borneo, the type locality of rufous ochraceous wash; cheeks ancd ernesti Sharpe, or from any of the other malar region solid black; lower l)reast, Sunda Islands. On the other hand, the abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts Whitney-Rothschild collection contains gray, heavily barred with black; most ten specimens from New Guinea and New specimens also show a slight rufous wash of Britain. A single adult male from Celebes the under parts, particularly the females; (Heinrich coll.) agrees perfectly with a immatures lack the grayness of the under series of four adult males from New Guinea parts but are very heavily streaked, on the an(d New Britain. If all of these birds are flanks these streaks broaden to bars. different from ernesti (Borneo), a point Wing, e ad. 277, 279, 283, 9 ad. 319, which I cannot decide for lack of material, 322, 330, 331, 340, Q imm. 322, 328, 330. the New Guinea population would have Culrnen (from cere), o' ad. 20, 20, 21, 21, to take the name heinrichi Kleinschmidt 9 adl. 23, 24, 24.5, 25, 25, 9 imm. 22, 24, given to a Celebes (type, Museum 24. Konig, Bonn). According to Stresemann Of Australian birds (macropus), not (1940, Journ. f. Orn., LXXXVIII, p. 469) enough material is available to judge geo- there is no difference between Celebes and graphical variation. A single specimen Java birds. The picture of Java birds pub- from southwestern Australia is much more lished by Kuroda (1936, Birds of Java, If, rufous underneath than eastern Australian P1. XXIII) also agrees very well with the birdls. It was named submelanogenrys by New Guinea series. Mathews. A single adult female from northwestern Australia (Capt. Bowyer Falco peregrinus ernesti Sharpe Bowen coll.) is much paler above and below CHARACTERS (based on the New Guinea than eastern Australian birds and has the series).-Upper parts very black with ir- barring of the under parts reduced. How far these differences are due to individual 1 Previous papers in this series comnprise American Museum Novitates, Nos. 115, 124, 149, 322, 337, 350, variation and how far to geographical varia- 356, 364, 365, 370, 419, 469, 486, 488, 489, 502, 504, 516, 520, 522, 531, 590, 609, 628, 651, 665, 666, 709, tion cannot be decided on the basis of the 714, 820, 828, 912, 915, 933, 939, 947, 977, 986, 1006, present material. 1007, 1056, 1057, 1091 and 1116. 2 The present paper is the last in my series of re- East of Australia, on the New Hebrides, visions of New Guinea genera. Submitted to the editor on Nov. 10, 1940. lives a form which in its characters is some- 2 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITA TES [-No. 1133 what intermediate between the New and Beaupre Island, Loyalty Islands. Guinea and the Australian falcons but Also observed by Macmillan on Uvea, which is quite distinct from either race. Lifu and Mare Islands, Loyalty Islands. It may be characterized as follows: Reported by Layard from Efate, New Heb- rides, and from New Caledonia. The spe- Falco peregrinus nesiotes, new subspecies cies is, undoubtedly, present on all the TYPE.-No. 306376, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; islands where suitable cliffs exist. c? ad.; Tanna Islanid, New Hebrides; April 8, This falcon has also been foundl in the 1936; L. Macrnillan coll. ADULT MALE. Upper parts as black as those Fiji Islands, but the material before me is of ernesti; uinder parts similar to those of macro- very unsatisfactory. It consists of a na- puts (Australia), but black bars heavier; breast tive collected flat skin from Taviuni (9 ad.) and under parts rriore deeply washed with rufous; and an adult male in excellent condition black bars on under wing br-oader aind more numnerous, pale bar-s oni primnaries less pro- which died after having lived in the New riounced; differs fromyi ernesti by the much less York Zoilogical Park for one year and four heavy barring of the uinder parts, by the reduc- months. The captivity bird is much tioni of the gray wash to flainks and thighs and deeper rufous chestnut below than any of by the deeper rufous wash of the under parts. ADULT FEMALE. Differs from macropuis by the wild-killed males of the neighboring the blackish upper parts aind the much mnoioe races. The barring of the abdomen is heavy barrinig of the unider parts, aind from ernesti by the absence of the gray wash of the intermediate between ernesti anti nesiotes, uinder par-ts, the narrower black bar-s anid the and there is a considerable amount of gray stronger rufous wash. wash, though not quite as much as in Wing, ef ad. 287+, eP iinmm. 295, 9 imm. 327; tail, e 131, 142, 9 160, 161; culiimeni, e 18, 19, ernesti. I prefer to keep the Fiji popula- 9 22, 23. tion with nesiotes until more adequate RANGE. Tanna Island, New Hebrides, material is available.

MUSCICAPIDAE

ON RHIPIDURA RUFIFRONS LOUISIADENSIS HAItTERT

In a recent note in the Ibis (1938, p. 762), is much larger. All the tail-feathers, ex- Charles M. N. White suggests that Rhipi- cept the central pair, are broadly tippedl dura rufifrons louisiadensis Hartert might with pure white, while in rufifrons they are be based on migrating specimens of Rh. r. only shaded with pale buffy gray. Tail rufifrons (Latham) from Australia. This longer, about 83-93, against 75-85 in suggestion is quite misleading. Rh. r. rufifrons. louisiadenis has nothing to do with rufi- I have examined 31 specimens of louisia- frons, but it is closely related to granti and densis from various localities in the Louisi- commoda from the Solomon Islands, differ- ades and the D'Entrecasteaux Archipela- ing from granti by the brown (not black) goes. Many were in breeding condition ear-coverts, and from commoda by its and most of them were collected during larger size (wing, e ad. 76-81, 9 ad. 71- November to February, the Australian 75). breeding season. Not one of the specimens It differs from rufifrons by the much from the Louisiades in the American Mu- deeper coloration throughout. Forehead, seum (including the Rothschildl coll.) be- lower back, rump and base of tail are deep longs to typical rufifrons. The winter rufous tawny, almost chestnut. The range of rufifrons is apparently restricte(d brown of crown and upper back is washed to the Fly River region andl the Gulf of with rufouis. The black spot on the throat Papua. 1941] BIRDS OF THE WHITNEY EXPEDITION. XLV 3

NOTES ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION OF MONARCHA ALECTO In 1928 G. M. Mathews (Bull. Brit. Orn. prising all New Guinea, the eastern an(d Club, XLVIII, p. 93) (lescribed some sub- western Papuan Islands, the islands of species of this species, but as Dr. Hartert Geelvink Bay, the Bismarck Archipelago pointe(l out correctly (1930, Novit. Zool., and the Admiralty Islands are occupied by XXXVI, p. 72), he compare(l his "new" an intergrading and irregularly varying forms in every case with those of other assemblage of populations. races of the species to which they were the Fairly clear-cut, but tending to intergrade least rielated. In a recent paper (1937, on the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago is Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., LXXIII, p. the form of the Louisiades: 151) Ran(d and I pointe(l out the fact that Monarcha alecto lucidus Gray, 1858- there was considerable variation within the Sudest Island. range of so-called Monarcha alecto chalybeo- Size large, particularly of the bill; adult cephalus and that the species was in urgent females light chestnut, (listinctly lighter nee(l of revision. than New Guinea birdls. The following forms can be recognized: Seven females from Sudest andc St. Aig- Monarcha alecto alecto Temminck, 1827- nan form a uniform series with very little northern Moluccas. individual variation. The darkest speci- Monarcha alecto longirostris Mathews, 1928 men is slightly lighter than the two (larkest Timorlaut. birds of a series of 16 adlult New Britain These two forms are outside the scope of females, and only the lightest Sudest bird the present paper and shall not be discussed falls outside the (larkest third of the New further. I may mention, however, that Britain series. the adult females of alecto differ from New Woodlark Island (7 9 ) and Trobriand Guinea females by having the back washed Islands (2 9 ). Form a uniforrn series with grayish which gives it an olive hue which agrees perfectly with Sudest Islan(d instead of the bright chestnut of chalybeo- birds. cephalus. D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago. Four of Monarcha alecto nitidus Gould, 1841- the five adult females form a uniform series northern Australia. and fall within the darkest third of the Mathews has separated from this form New Britain series. One single bircl, how- not less than four other subspecies. Prior ever, is darker than the darkest New Brit- to additional revisionary work, I shall ain bird, but agrees quite well with New group all Australian birds under the name Guinea specimens. nitidus. The females of this form have a Monarcha alecto chalybeocephalus Glarnot, very dark and dull rufous brown back, but 1828 New Ireland. the metallic blue of the crown does not Under this name a great number of is- spread to the upper back. land populations are combined in some of A series collected on Daru Island by the which the females have a pale back, in Archbold Expedition of 1933-1934 be- others a (laIk chestnut one. longs clearly to this race. It is probable Pale birds are found on New Hanover, that the species breeds on Daru Island and New Ireland, New Britain, the French is not just a winter visitor from Australia. Islands, Rook Island, Dampier Island and Monarcha alecto rufolateralis Gray, 1858- in the Astrolabe Bay district in New Aru Islands. Guinea. A very dark race. The metallic blue of Dark birdls are found oIn FeIni Island, all the crown spreads in the adult female onto New Guinea, Japan, Waigeu and Misol. the upper back. Very dark birds on the Admiralty Is- Monarcha alecto manumudari Rothschild lands, Numfor and Biak. In view of the and Hartert, 1915-Vulcan Island. irregularity of this distribution and the con- The largest race. Gloss of males rather siderable individual variation exhibited by greenish. the birds of the larger islands (for example, These are the clear-cut races. The re- New Britain) it seems inadvisable to rec- mainder of the range of the species, com- ognize two names, one for the populations 4 AMERICAN MU[SEUM NO VITA TES [-No. 1133 wvith light females (chalybeocephalwts) anid This character is of no hlell) in sub(lividing one for those with (lark females (novae- the above unitecl assemblage of popula- guineensis Mathews). Dr. Hartert had tions. Size variation is irregular. Plopu- alrea(ly reached the same conclusion (1930, lations from the islandls show loc. cit.). followinig The gloss of males is sometimnes more large rneasurernents and might conceivably bluish, sometimes more greenish, but ex- be includedl with lucidus: Nuinfor, Darn- ceedingly variable within each population. pier Island, an(l Maniis, Admiralty Islands.

NOTES ON PLACENS Poecilodryas placens (Ramsay) series of clara (steini) from the lower Menoo There are absolutely no differences be- River. Poecilodryas placens clara Strese- tween fresh specimens from southeasterni mann and Paludan must, therefore, be con- New Guinea, Astrolabe Bay and the type si(lered a synonym of typical piacens.

THE GENERIC CLASSIFICATION OF SOEIE NEW GUINEA FLYCIATCHERS (MUICROECA-POEC[LODRYAS GROUP) The generic subdivision of the New species generically fromti and Guinea flycatchers has been a puzzle to the Kempia Mathews is a clear synonym of taxonomist ever since the various species Microeca. were (liscovered. In recent years Mathews "'simplified" matters by providing a ge- Microeca griseoceps De Vis neric name for nearly every species he knew. A small species with rathervweak feet In many of the cases this was (lone without (tarsus 17-18%o of wing) but long tail (73- stating the characters that actually sepa- 78% of wing). The first primary is much rate it from its nearest relative. In the longer than in leucophaea (more than 50%/0 difficult Microeca-Poecilodryas assemblage, of the second, against 35-40% in leuco- we can distinguish two maini groups, the phaea). Microeca group consisting of true flyeatch- In all other chaiacters this is a typical ers and the Poecilodryas group consisting Microeca and no reasoni exists to recognize (more oI less) of undergrowth dwellers. Kempiella Mathews. Each one of these species presents certain structural pecu- MICROECA GOULD liarities, but it would leadl much too far to TYPE.-Microeca leucophaea (Latham). recognize monotyp)ical genera for all of A medium-size(d species with a rather them. small an(d flat bill; feet weak and tarsus rather short (18-19% of the wing); tail Microeca flavovirescens Gray short (63-64%o of the wing). Detailed A large bird also with a long tail (74- generic (liagnosis in Mathews, Birds Aus- 7570 of wing), but with comparatively tralia, VIII, I). 62. weak legs (tarsus 17%o of wing). Bill The following Papuan species are usually rather long an(l (leep and with a strong inclu(led in this : hook at the end. Second primary very short, first primary about 48%o of second. Microeca flavigaster Mathews proposedl the genus Dikempia for Structurally very close to leucophaea. this species (Birds Australia, VIII, ). 73). Fourth primary longest, third and fifth subequal instead of 3 = 4 > 5. Tail Microeca papuana Meyer slightly longer (65-68%O of the wing), tar- A small bird with a short tail (60-63% sus shoiter (17-18%). of wing), but with strong feet and a long It is quite impossible to separate this tarsus (22-24% of wing). The wing for- 19411]1BIRDS OF' THE WHITNEY EXPEDITION. XLV' I mula is 4 = 5 > 3 > 6 > 7 > 2. Thefirst stroniger andc larger bill, its stronger feet primary is 54%70 of the second. The bill is and its more roun(le(l wing. These charac- comparatively small and flat. Mathews ters are correlated with the habits of the created the genus Devioeca for this species species of this genus. They are not strictly which is possibly justified as a subgenus. flyeatchers who sit quietly on a branch and In all these species the females are col- catch flying prey, but they search for their ored as the males and the birds in first-year food actively clinging to vines and search- plumage resemble adults except for wings ing through the undergrowth. and winig-coverts. Ogilvie-Grant (1915, Ibis, Suppl., p. 161) The juvenal dress is worn only for a very has also place(d M. papuana in this genus. short time and is, therefore, unknown in This species is intermediate between Mi- some of the species, as for example, in croeca and in the structure of griseoceps. In the species in which it is its feet an(d in its wiing formula, but it is known (leucophaea, flavigaster, flavovires- better included in Microeca, principally on cens) it lacks the yellow lipochrom com- the basis of its bill. pletely. The upper parts are brown with The juvenal plumage in this genus is white tips on the feathers, the under parts quite unlike that of Microeca. It is not are white with a liberal amount of brown, spotted, but uniform brown, darker above particularly on throat, breast an(d flanks. and paler below. The middle of the upper The juvenal plumage of papuana is not yet throat is particularly pale an(l there is quite understood, since only immature sometimes a faint streaking (light shaft- birds with remainders of the nestling (ju- streaks) on the crown. The upper wing- venal) plumage are known. It is probably coverts are brown as the back, but wing like that of the other species, but it is also an(l tail-feathers are olive. The first-year possible that the feathers of the back are plumage, which is acquired through an in- olive with yellowish-white tips. Such complete molt, retains the primary-coverts feathers are scattered through the back of and some of the greater upper wing-coverts immature birds, but do not seem to belong in addition to wing and tail-feathers. to the immature plumage. Nestlings are sirnilar to such of Pachy- cephala, but are dull brown, not rufous TREGELLASIA MATHEWS brown. This genus was created for "" capito Gould and in it was later included POECILODRYAS ASSEMBLAGE "Poecilodryas" leucops (Salvadori). There are eight species of birds on New The genus differs from Poecilodryas Guinea whieh are usually included in the principally by the flat bill and from Mi- genus Poecilodryas. For these eight species croeca by the much stronger feet and longer Mathews uses seven genera: Poecilodryas tarsus. (hypoleuca), Leucophantes (brachyura), Pe- The type species is capito in which the neoenanthe (= Quoyornis) (pulverulenta), tail is rather long (70-71% of the wing) and Papualestes (cyana), (sigillata, the tarsus 26.5-28.5%7o of the wing. The bimaculata), Gennaeodryas (placens) and wingformula is 4 = 5 > 6 > 3 > 7 > 8 > 2. Plesiodryas (albonotata). Such an arrange- The first primary is short and the secondl ment of monotypic genera is very unsatis- very short. factory because it makes the use of specific Also included in this genus might be names superfluous and is, furthermore, a se- leucops with a much shorter tail (64-65%7o vere handicap of the taxonomist's memory. of the wing) but an equally long tarsus On the other hand, Poecilodryas (sensu lato) (26.5-27.5%o of the wing). The bill is ex- is admittedly a heterogeneous assemblage. actly as in capito. The wing formula is Lacking anatomical evidence (which 4 = 5 > 6 > 3 > 7 > 8 = 2. First and most likely would not be of any help any- second primaries are short, the first being how) there are three sources of evidence to- exactly 50%0 of the second. ward a generic classification: (1) structure The genus differs from Microeca by its of bill, feet, etc., and proportions; (2) 6 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES ['No. 1133 color pattern of the adults; (3) color of the possibly with more white on the lower ab- nestling plumage. On the basis of such domen. evidence I would like to suggest the follow- We now come to three species wlhichl ing subdivision of the Poecilodryas assem- might be included in Poecilodr-yas, partly blage. because their plumages are not completely known and partly to avoid putting them in POECILODRYAS GOULD monotypic genera. TYPE. Poecilodryas superciliosa Goul(l. A me(lium-sized bird with long tail (77- Poecilodryas pulverulenta (Bonaparte) 82%c) and medium-size(d tarsus (25.0- A medium-sized bird with me(liurn pro- 25.6%1/0). The bill is strong, but flat, with a portions (tail 71-76.5%'O; tarsus 24.5-26% well-defined ridge on the culinen and a hook of wing). Wing formula: 4 = 5 = 6 > 3 on the tip. The rictal bristles are long and > 7 > 8 = 2. First and second pirimaries strong. The wing is rounded 4 = 5 = 6 > long; first primary is 60%o of the second. 3 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 2. The first plrimary is The general coloration is dark above and very long (about 60% of the second). The whitish belowv, no superciliary marks or color pattern is characteristic: under parts white wing-bars, but with the base of the whitish, upper parts (lark; a broad white tail white. The species is remarkable for wing-bat andl whlite tips of the tail-featlhers; its Pachycephala-like compresse(l an(l small lores and superciliuin are white. bill and the weakly develop)e(l rictal bristles. The juvenal plumage is lplain brown, The juvenal plumage is (lescribed by wing an(l tail being similar to that of the Mathews (Birdls Austr., VIII, p. 275). It adults. (liffers from that of Poecilodryas by the The followiing New Guinea species also greater amount of white on the abdomen seem to belong to this genus: and the rather spotted or streaky appear- ance of the brown of the upper parts. The Poecilodryas brachyura Selater species is a manigrove-dweller ain(l likes to Very similar to superciliosa in general feedl on the ground. size, proportions and color pattern. Dif- fers by not having any white on the tail, by Poecilodryas placens having yellow feet andl by the much shorter A very large bird, with a ,lhIort tail (60- tail. The tail is about 60-63%/'o of the wing 61%) and a short tarsus (23.5-24.0%). and the tarsus 24.5-25.5%7. There is no Wingformula: 4=5>6>3>7>8>2. doubt that this species is congeneric with The first primary is rather long, the second superciliosa an(d that Leucophantes Sclater rather short, the first primary is 57%O of is a synonym of Poccilodryas. the second. The bill is a typical Poecilo- dryas bill, but the coloration differs strik- Poecilodryas hypoleuca Gray ingly from the other species of Poecilodryas General color pattern and proportioin by the presence of olive above and yellow very similar to those of superciliosa. The below. There are no white marks on wing tail is about 71-72% of the wing andI the or tail. The juvenal plumage is unknown. tarsus 24-25%O. There is a little white on This species is, apart from its coloration, a the tip of the outermost tail-feather and typical Poecilodryas. two large triangular black spots on the sides of the breast. The wing formula is Poecilodryas albonotata 4 = 5 = 6 > 7 > 3 > 8 > 9 = 2 and the A very large species, witlh a me(lium sized first primary is 54% of the second. tail (70-73.5%O) and a rather short tarsus No specimens in complete juvenal plum- (22-23.5%V). The bill is very large but age seem to be known of either brachyura not really out of proportion with the gen- or hypoleuca, but several specimens in erally large size. The wing formula: partly immature plumage permit a recon- 4 > 5 > 3 > 6 > 7 > 2 > 8; bothfirstand struction of the juvenal plumage which second primaries are rather long, the first seems to agree with that of superciliosa, being 54% of the second. The coloration 19411 BIRDS OF THE WHITNEY EXPEDITION. XLI77 fits fairly well into the genus Poecilodryas, sizedl tail (73.5-74.5%o) and a very long except for a large black shield on the throat. tarsus (31-33.5%u). The wing is round: The tail is uniform, but the typical Poecilo- 4 = 5 > 6 > 3 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 2, the first dryas pattern is indicated on the outside of primary being 55-58% of the second. the wing and there is a white bar across the The coloration is uniform (pale gray below, inner webs of the wing-feathers. The blue-gray above), with a hidden white juvenal plumage is uniform pale cinnamon, area on the inner webs of the inner pri- except for the two white throat patches maries. The juvenal plumage is unknown, which are already present in this plumage. but remainders of it in a first-year bird sug- The species really possesses no character gest that it is very much as that of cyanus. which would exclude it from Poecilodryas. The three species just mentioned, al- though showing some minor variation of PENEOTHELLO MATHEWS proportions, differ from Poecilodryas in the TYPE.-Poecilodryas? sigillata De Vis, coloration of the juvenal plumage, in gen- 1920, Birds of Australia, VIII, p. 185. eral color pattern, in the small, laterally Peneothello sigillatus compressed bill, in the long tarsus, and A fairly large species, with a medium- other features (shape of first primary and sized tail (69-73%0) and a very long tarsus of the tail-feathers). It seems justified to (30-32.5%7,). The bill is comparatively recognize for these species the genus Peneo- small, laterally compressed and not broad- thello Mathews, of which Papualestes ened at the base as in the typical species of Mathews is a synonym. Peneothello crypto- the genus Poecilodryas. The rietal bristles leucus is a perfect link as far as the propor- are comparatively short and weak. The tions go, between cyanuts an(l sigillatus. wing is rounde(d: 4 = 5 = 6 > 3 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 = 2. The second primary is This leaves one species to be discussed, about as long as the secondaries, the first Peneothello bimaculatus. This species does primary is about 57-62%7 of the second. not fit at all into Poecilodryas, but it also The coloration differs remarkably from the differs in several important aspects from typical Poecilodryas style. It is all black Peneothello (tarsus, juvenal plumage). Un- with some white on the inner secondaries til more is known about nest, eggs and hab- and (in quadrimaculatus) on the sides of its of this species, the creation of a mono- the breast. The juvenal plumage is of a typic gentus for this species should be dark rufous brown with pale buffy tawny avoide(l. shaft-streaks. Upper wing-coverts, wing- and tail-feathers have pale tips. This Peneothello bimaculatus streaky juvenal is rather different from the A fairly large species, with ain extraordi- more or less uniform brownish plumage of narily short tail (57-58% of the wing) and a juvenal Poecilodryas. rather short tarsus (25-26%6). The bill is about halfway between Poecilodryas and Peneothello cyanus Peneothello, neither compressed nor de- A fairly large species, with a riather short pressed. The wing formula is 4 = 5 = 6 tail (66-69%6) and a fairly long tarsus (26- > 3 = 7 > 8 > 9 = 2, the first primary 27%6). Bill as in sigillatus. The colora- being 58% of the secon(l. The general tion is a more or less uniform dark gray- coloration is black with white on the upper blue. The wing is not quite as rounded as tail-coverts, sides of breast an(d lower ab- in sigillatus: 4 = 5 = 6 > 3 > 7 > 8 = 2 domen. No white on wing or tail. The > 9. The second primary is somewhat juvenal plumage appears to be unknown. longer than in sigillatus, the first 56-59%o A specimen in the first-year plumage of the secon(l. The juvenal plumage is (Hompua, Huon 1'eninsula, April 8, 1929, exactly as in sigillatus, only d(arker, and R. H. Beck, e) shows a coloration totally the shaft-streaks narrower. different from that of any Poecilodryas, Peneothello cryptoleucus Hartert Peneothello (or Saxicola). It is sooty black A medium-sized species, with a mediLum- all over, without white on the sides of the 8 AMERICAN MUSEUM NO VITA TES [No. 1133 breast, just with some white tips on eiis- probably, of all the l'apuan genera, most sum and under tail-coverts. There is no closely related to Microeca. It agrees with brown in the plumage, except for a brown- that genus in the short tail (61-640/o of the ish wash on some of the greater upper wing- wing), in the weak foot and short tarsus coverts. The coloration of this first-year of the wing), and in the bird suggests that the juvenal plumage is (17-18.5%o more or largely sooty black or sooty brown. less spotted juvenal plumage (see Ibis, 1915, Suppl., p. 166). The wing formula is MONACHELLA 4 > 3 = 5 > 6 > 2 > 7 > 8 (pointed wing), This monotypic genus is very aberiant and the first primary is about 38%o of the in structure a(ld color characters, b)ut is second, the secon(d primary being very long.

PARADISAEIDAE NOTES ON PHONYGAMMUS KERAUDRENII JA-MESI SHARPE There is much confusion in the literatur e 80.5, 81.2, av. 78.6, in a series of six a(dtult concerning the characters and riange of this males from the Aru Islands an(l south New form. It is exceedingly close to typical Guinea. Wing length, e ad. 165, 166, 168, keraudrenii, but differs by larger size and 169, 169, 169, against 156, 156, 157, 159, longer ear-tufts (Mayr and Rand, 1937, 159, 160, 161, 164 in keraudrenii. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., LXXIII, p. RANGE.-Aru Islands; southern New 194). The tail-wing index is large as in Guinea from the Mimika River in the west, keraudrenii; it is 76.3, 76.8, 77.7, 79.3, eastward at least to Hall Soundl.

ON THE CORRECT NAM\IE OF THE WEST NEW GUINEA KING BIRD OF PARADISE (CICINNURUS REGIUS) When Ogilvie-Grant found in 1915 that the bird s1)ecimenis which were subse- Cicinnurus regius showed some geographi- quently described in his narrative. It is ob- cal variation (Ibis, Suppl., p. 16) he took vious that the Cicinnurus regius which he great pains to point out that Linnaeus' name obtained at Gebe must have come fromi should be applied to the Aru Island race, Batanta, Salawati or the Vogelkop and I, but he ignored that there were two addi- therefore, restrict the type locality of rex tional names available which unquestion- Scopoli to the Sorong (listrict, western New ably refer to the western New Guinea race Guinea. and anteclate claudii Grant. Even if the name rex were rejecte(I as The older of these names is Paradisaea being too simnilar to regius another unused Rex Scopoli, 1788, Del. Faun. et Flor. name would have to replace c7audii: Ci- Insubr., pt. 2, p. 88. Scopoli's name is ex- cinnurus spinturnix Lesson (1835, Ois. clusively based on Sonnerat's description Parad., p. 182, Pls. xvi-xviii). This (1776, Voy. Nouv. Guinee, p. 156, P1. 95). name is based on a male and a female col- It is now known that Sonnerat never lected at Dorei (= Manokwari) by the reached New Guinea, but was anchored at Coquille Expedition. I, therefore, re- Gebe, approximately 100 km. from New strict the type locality of spinturnix to Guinea. There native traders brought him Manokwari, Vogelkop.