DIPHYLLODES HUNSTEINI, Meyer,

Hunstein’s Bird of Paradise.

Diphyllodes chrysoptera (nec Gould), Sharpe, Journ, Linn, Soc.
lil, p. 553 (1882).—Ramsay, Proce. Linn. Soc. N. Sa Venyiuieonais (1883).—Meyer, Zeitschr
li. p. 887 (1885).—Id. Ibis, 1886, p. 255 —D’Hamonv. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 18% }
Agg. Orn. Papuasia, ii. p. 161 (1890).—Goodwin, This, 1890, p. 1

Diphyllodes hunsteini, Meyer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. ii. p- 389 (1885).—Id. Ibis, 1886, p. 256—D’Hamonv. Bull
Soc. Zool. France, 1886, p. 510.—Salvad. Age. Orn. Papuasia, ii. p- 162 (1890).—Id. op. cit. iii, De 249
(1891).—Meyer, J. f.O. 1892, p. 262.—Sharpe, Bull. B. O.C., iv. p- li (1894),

Diphyllodes magnifica (nec Penn.), De Vis, Ann. Rep. Brit. New Guinea, p- 61 (1890).—Id. Colonial Papers
no. 103, p. 113 (1890).—Id. Ibis, 1894, p.-37.

Diphyllodes chrysoptera septentrionalis, Meyer, J. f. O. 1892
no. 3, p. 22 (1893).

Diphyllodes septentrionalis, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. iy.

» Zool. xvi. p. 443 (1882).—Salvad. Orn, Papuasia,

ges. Orn.
86, p. 510.—Salvad.
53.—Meyer, J. f. O. 1892, p. 262.

, p. 261.—Id. Abhandl. k. Zool. Mus. Dresden, 1892-93,

p- ii (1894),—Madarasz, Aquila, i. p. 91 (1894).

 

Tus is the form of Golden-winged Bird of Paradise found in the south-eastern portion of New Guinea, At
one time I believed it to be the same as D. chrysoptera of Gould, but recent experience bas shown me that it
is a distinct species. Though it has the same golden colour on the wings as D. chrysoptera, it may easily be
recognized by its lighter crimson mantle.

Diphyllodes hunsteini was described by Dr. Meyer from a specimen obtained in the Horseshoe Range
of the Owen Stanley Mountains by the late Carl Hunstein. The specimen was not fully adult, but differed
from D. chrysoptera in its more brilliant orange-red wings, longer nasal plumes, and other minor characters,
which seemed to Dr. Meyer to warrant its specific separation.

Having now seen a considerable series of specimens from the mountains of South-eastern New Guinea, I
believe that there is but one species of Diphyllodes to be found there; and as it is uot D. chrysoptera of Gould,
it must bear the name of D. /unsteini of Meyer. The British Museum received the two specimens figured
in the accompanying Plate from the same collection. Both were presented to the Museum by the late
Hon. Hugh Romilly ; and this fact is pretty conclusive that the more brilliant orange-golden wing is a sign of
age in the bird, as both forms occur in the same locality. The Hon. Walter Rothschild has lent me several
specimens of D. septentrionalis from the Finisterre Mountains in German New Guinea, collected by
Capts. Webster and Cotton, and after comparing them with a number of others from the Astrolabe Range
in the British Museum and the Rothschild collection, [ believe that they cannot be separated from D. hunsteini.

Dr. Meyer does not claim for his D. septentrionalis more than sub-specific value, and he recognizes that the
species of Diphyllodes vary gradually from east to west; but the only difference that I can and in
D. septentrionalis is that the mantle is slightly darker, and on comparing half a dozen specimens of this race
with D. hunsteini from the Astrolabe Range, there are some individuals which cannot be distinguished. I have
therefore united the two forms. 2 ;

Mr. Goodwin tells me that the present species is apparently a bird of the interior of Ne Guinea, as it
was only met with by Sir William Macgregor’s expedition on their reaching Mount Knatsford,

D. hunsteini may be described as very similar to D. chrysoptera, but differing in the Ne crimson
colour of the mantle-patch. Total length 7 inches, culmen 0°9, wing 4:3, tant 1:8, tarsus I-lo.

The female is rather lighter brown than the female of D. magnifica, and is more rufous a ae
and ear-coverts. The wings are slightly more golden, and the cross-bars on the under surface more
dusky and less pronounced. | oo) apa

The Plate represents two adult males, of the natural size, from the Astrolabe Mountains, ana <

figure of a female bird from the same locality.

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