XANTHOMELUS ARDENS, pu. § Salvad.

Southern Golden Bird of Paradise.

Sericulus aureus (pt.), D’Alb. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vii. p. 798 (1875).—Id. op. cit. x, pp. 14, 20 (1877),

Xanthomelus aureus ?, D’ Alb. & Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. xiv. p. 113 (1879).—D’Alb.
388, 493, 588 (1880).

Xanthomelus ardens, D’Alb. & Salvad, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. xiv.p. 113 (1879).—Salvad. Orn, Papuasia, ete. ii.
p- 663 (1881).—Id. Aggiunte Orn. Papuasia, etc. ii. p. 165 (1890).—Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. iy. p. xiv
(1894).

Oriolus ardens, Musschenbr. Dagboek, pp. 210, 237 (1883).—Rosenb. Mitth. orn, Ver. Wien, 1885, p. 54.

Nuova Guinea, pp. 211,

 

Tuts species, which is a southern representative of X. awreus, was discovered by Signor D’Albertis on the
Fly River, where he procured a native skin of a male and also a perfect skin of a young bird. He says
that the plumes of this bird are worn by the natives of the Fly River as ornaments. No one appears A
have met with the species since the visit of D’Albertis to this part of New Guinea.

Adult male. Similar to X. aureus, but of a much more brilliant and fiery red on the head, neck, and
mantle.

Young male. Above brown, washed with ashy grey on the edges of the feathers of the scapulars
and mantle, all of which have yellow shafts ; quills brown, externally yellowish brown or golden olive, some
of the wing-coverts and scapulars washed externally with the latter colour; tail-feathers washed with ashy
along the outer webs; head and neck lighter brown than the back, the feathers on the sides of the neck
longer and forming a frill; sides of face and ear-coverts light brown, the latter rufescent; chin isabelline,
fading off into the yellow of the throat, which is pale and forms a narrow band shut in by the frilled sides of
the neck; all the rest of the under surface of the body bright golden yellow, paler on the thighs; sides of
upper breast slightly washed with light brown ; under wing-coverts, axillaries, and quill-liming also bright
golden yellow : ‘bill reddish brown, yellow at base of lower mandible; feet olivaceous leaden grey ; irides
yellow” (D’ dlbertis). Total length 10 inches, culmen 1+1, wing 5:4, tail 2°8, tarsus 1°75.

The figures and descriptions given are taken fror the type specimens kindly lent me by the

Marquis Doria.

  
    
   
  
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

JOO OU OK

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