OKTHONYX ITOVaE - G KM E J3 , Meyer.
ORTHONYX NOVtE GUINEAS, Meyer.
Papuan Orthonyx.
Orthonyx spinicauda, Schlegel, Nederl. Tijdschr. voor de Dierk. iv. p. 47 (1873).
Orthonyx nova guinea, Meyer, Sitz. Akad. Wien, lxix. p. 83 (1 8 7 4 ).—Beccari, Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 7
(1 8 7 5 ).—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 935 (1875).—Sclater, Ibis, 1876, p. 247.
T he genus Orthonyx now contains three species, all of which have been figured by me, viz.:— 0 . spinicauda
(or, as Count Salvadori has proved to us that it should be called, 0 . temmincki) ; 0 . spaldingi, of Ramsay;
and, lastly, the New-Guinea representative 0 . novas guinea, o f Meyer. The first notice of the occurrence of
this truly Australasian genus was given by Professor Schlegel, who recorded in 1873 the fact that the Dutch
traveller Baron von Rosenberg had met with an adult male specimen of an Orthonyx in North-western New
Guinea. Prof. Schlegel adds:-—“ I do not find any sensible differences between it and Australian individuals.
It is true that its tail is six lines less than usual in the latter bird; but I refuse to attribute this difference to
any other cause than an imperfect moult.” In the mean time Dr. Meyer also visited the same part o f New
Guinea, and procured the female; and on comparing it with 0 . spinicauda he found that it differed sufficiently
to show that it belonged to a distinct species. In this conclusion he has been followed by Count
Salvadori, who has had six specimens, three males and three females, to examine from the collections formed
by Dr. Beccari and Mr. Bruijn in the Arfak Mountains. I must also admit that the species seems to me to
be perfectly recognizable. Dr. Meyer writes:— “ The reddish brown on the chin and throat is much more
restricted than in 0 . spinicauda; and the remarkable black colour on the sides o f this reddish brown is
altogether wanting; the sides o f the body, breast, and belly entirely grey, with only a few white feathers on
the latter. Further, the brown of the upper parts is as rich as in 0 . spinicauda, and the black colour more
strongly developed. The white spots on the wing are remarkable by their absence.”
Count Salvadori also gives a full account of the difference of the sexes, and of the specific difference
between the present species and the Australian bird. Any one comparing the Plate now given with the
one in my ‘ Birds of Australia ’ will see the distinctive characters of the two birds at a glance.
To Dr. Meyer and Count Salvadori I am indebted for the loan of the birds figured in the Plate, which
are represented o f the natural size.
When this paper had so far gone through the press, I received the following few lines from my friend Dr.
Meyer, which I have great pleasure in inserting:—“ I only got one female of this new species from the
Arfak Mountains, acquired in July 1873, at a height of about 3500 feet. In its general habitus it equals
0 . spinicauda from Australia, but differs in coloration and size.
“ Total length 172 millims.; wing 8 4 ; tail 6 7 ; bill 13.”