CHLAMYDODEI^A. XANTHOGASTRA..
CHLAMYDODERA XANTHOGASTRA
YELLOW-BREASTED BOWER-BIRD.
SERICULUS XANTHOGASTER, Schlegel, Tijdsch. Dierk. (1871) pt. v. p. 60.
CHLAMYDODERA XANTHOGASTRA, Elliot, Ibis (1872), p. 113.
H a b . New Guinea (R o s en b e jb g ).
T h i s new species was procured by M. von Rosenberg in the interior of New Guinea, where he lately succeeded in
penetrating; and he* has the proud satisfaction of being the only European who has ever reached the mountain-districts
of that little-known land: Prof. Schlegel, who described this bird, states that “ the researches made in the spring of
1870 in the interior of the northern part of New Guinea have made us acquainted with this species, sent by M. von
Rosenberg under the name of Oriolm axmthogaster. In placing it in the genus Sericulm I have in view the particular
structure of the feathers of the head, of the neck, and mantle—a character exclusively belonging to Sericulm, and one
not observed in the Loriots. We possess a male and two females of this bird, both having the sump system of
coloration. The Sericiilus xanthoyaster is of the style of the Sericulm aureus, also originating in the northern
part of the island o f " New Guinea, although our travellers have never met with it there.”
In ‘ The Ibis ’ for 1872 I placed this bird in the genus Chlamydodera; for i t ' is very different from the only
species of the genus Sericulm to which Prof. Schlegel considered it belonged. In structure it is a true Bower-
bird, and is nearest the Chlamydodera cervineiventris (Gould), to which, indeed, it assimilates in the colouring of its
plumage; and, like all the species of this genus, there is little or no difference between the sexes as regards their
dress, while the female of Sericulm melinm is coloured altogether differently from the male. That the present species
also builds a bower I have not the slightest doubt, although its discoverer does not mention having seen any such
structure.
Upper part o f head and neck light brown, darkest in the centre of the feathers. Mantle covering the upper
part of the back dark brown, with the shafts yellow. Rest of upper parts dark rufous brown, centre of the
feathers on the back bright yellow. Wings rufous brown. Tail lighter brown than the back. Shafts rufous.
Cheeks and throat light rufous brown. Entire underparts bright golden-yellow. Bill and feet and tarsi black.
Both sexes are alike in the colour of their plumage.
The description is taken from the, type in the Leyden Museum kindly lent to me by Prof. Schlegel.