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bower like Chlamydodera, or built a hut like Amdlyorns. Cont Salvadori has, however, expressed his opinion
that the Xanthomeli will be found to construct a bower ov some sort, aul! of this I mysele likewise entertain
no doubt. As far as is known at present, the Golden Bird of Paradise is only found in the north-western
portion of New Guinea, being replaced by Xanthomelus ardens in the te part of the island. Its
supposed occurrence in the island of Waigiou is, as pointed out by Count Salvadori, a mistake ; and the only
localities inhabited by the species, of which we have exact oan are Dorey, where Lesson and the
Dutch travellers procured it, the Arfak Mountains, where D’Albertis and Beceari met with At, and Sorong,
where it was also found by D’Albertis. Mr. Wallace procured a peu ves pi paler skin in Salawati, but
this may have been brought from the mainland of New Guinea, as no living specimens have been observed
in that island.

The only notes on the habits of the species are those given by Dr. Beccari :—*« It was procured by
me near Hatam, on the same fig-tree on which D’Albertis obtained the greater number of his birds. It
has more or less the habits of a Bird of Paradise, feeding on fruits and particularly on figs. Not more
than two or three individuals are found together, generally only a male and a female. It is a very lively and
suspicious bird, and after I had killed a male bird, a female, accompanied by another bird (probably a young
one), came back after a while to feed on the same tree, but I could not discover them. Although this bird
is found up to an altitude of 3000 feet and more, it seems to be more abundant on the hills near the sea.
It is always difficult to find, and even in the places which it frequents there never seem to be more than
two pairs. The note, according to my hunters, resembled the zigolio of the Sun-birds, but was much
stronger and louder. Only the tuft of plumes of the head is erectile. By the natives of Arfak it is called
Komieda.”

The description of the male is taken from the ‘ Catalogue of Birds,’ and that of the female and young
bird from Count Salvadori’s ‘ Uccelli di Papuasia.’

* Adult male. General colour above fiery orange-red, the head crested, the back witha large dorsal shield ;
scapulars, as well as the lower back, rump, and tail-coverts, orange-yellow mixed with black at the base ;
wings deep orange, the feathers black at the base ; quills orange, shading off into olive-brown, with more or
less orange-yellow towards the base; tail black ; a narrow line running from the base of the bill, as well
as the lores and the feathers round the eye, sides of face, and throat, black; rest of under surface of body
orange-yellow ; sides of head and neck, as well as the long plumes on the side of the latter, fiery orange-red
like the dorsal shield. Total length about 9 inches, culmen 0°95, wing 5:1, tail 3-65.”

“Adult female. Above dusky olivaceous ; sides of head and throat dusky black,
spots of olive; breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts yellow.” (Lesson.)

‘Young. Above brown, with scarcely any ol}

varied with longitudinal

ive; the shafts of the concealed portion of the interscapulary

plumes yellow ; under surface of body bright yellow; throat and sides of head pale brownish rufous;
upper breast ornamented with dusky angulated band

S; wings and upper surface of body coloured like the
back and scarcely any darker ; under wing-coverts and _ basal part of the inner web of the quills yellow;
lower surface of the shafts of the quills yellow ; tail olive-yellow underneath ; bill dusky black ; feet leaden
grey; iris chestnut.”

The Plate is the same as that published in the late Mr. Gould’s ‘ Birds of New Guinea.’