ASTUR MELANOCHLAMYS.
Black-mantled Goshawk.
Urospizias melanochlamys, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. vii. p. 905 (1875).—Id. op. cit. xii. p. 38 (1878).—Id.

Orn. Papuasia e delle Molucche, i. p. 63 (1880).
Astur melanochlamys, Sharpe, Mitth. k. zool. Mus. Dresd. Heft iii. p. 355 (1878).

 

Tuts fine species is at present only known from the Arfak Mountains in North-western New Guinea, whence
the first specimens were sent to Europe by Mr. Bruijn and Dr. Beccari. We have also seen a specimen in
Dr. Guillemard’s collection from the same locality.

This Goshawk is a very distinct species, and belongs to the Austro-Malayan section of the genus Astur,
which embraces the species which have a rufous collar round the hind neck. It differs from all its allies,
however, by having the ear-coverts slaty black like the head and back, and by the deep vinous chestnut of
the under surface.

The following description was taken by us from the type specimen belonging to the Genoa Museum, a
sight of which was granted to us by Count Salvadori during his last visit to England :—

Adult female. General colour above deep black ; head black like the back, from which it is separated by
a broad well-defined collar of vinous chestnut; quills and tail black like the upper surface, the inner webs
rather browner, barred with black; entire sides of face black like the crown; throat also black, but mottled
with white bases to the feathers, many of the latter being white barred with black; remainder of under
surface of body deep vinous chestnut, with slightly developed whitish bars on the flanks and lower abdomen ;
under wing-coverts and axillaries vinous chestnut, with remains of lighter cross bars, the greater series and
the inner webs of the quills greyish white with a vinous tinge and barred with blackish. ‘Total length 15-2
inches, culmen 1:1, wing 10:0, tail 7°8, tarsus 2°65.

The Plate represents an adult bird of about the size of life, with a smaller figure in the background.
Both are drawn from a specimen procured by Dr. Guillemard in the Arfak Mountains, and kindly lent to us
by that gentleman.

[R. B. 8.]

OOS