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M A N U C O D I A CO M R 11, Sclaler.
Curl-crested Manucode.
Manucodia comru, Sclatcr, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 433, ijl. xlii.—Id. Ibis, 1870, p. 304.—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Gen.
ix. p. 191 (1876).—Sdatei-, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 4:i.—Gould, B. New Guiii. i. pi. Sli (1877).—Ramsay, Proc.
Linn. Soc. N. S. W. iv. p. 469 (1879).—Eudes-Deslongcli. Ann. Mus. d'liist. Nat. Caen, i. p. 47 (1880).—
Salvad. Orn. Papuasia, ii. p. 491 (1881).—Sliarpc, Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool. xvi. p. 412 (1882).—
Salvad. Oni. Papuasia, iii. p. 561 (1882).—Musschenbr. Dagbock, pp. 190, 230 (1883).—Uo.senb.
MT. oin. Ver. Wien, ISS."), p. 40.—D'Hamonv. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, xi. p. 510 (1880).—Tristr.
Ibis, 1889, p. 654.—Salvad. Agg Orn. Papuasia, ii. p. 147 (1890).—Id. Ann. Mus. Gen. (2) x. p, 239
(1891).—Id. Agg. Orn. Papuasia, iii. p. 239 (1891).—North, Rcc. Austr. Mus. ii. p. 32, pi, vii. (1892).—
Meyer, Abbandl. k. zool. Mus. Dresden, 1892-93, no. 3, p, 15 (1893).
THIS is tlie largest spccies of tlie Mainicodes, and was duscovcred L)y ])R. Coinrie in Huon Gulf, in Soutlieasteni
New Guinea, during the cruise of H.M.S. ' ]5asilisk.' Mr. Geisler also saw the species in this locality,
hut did not manage to procure a specimen. Dr. Meyer suggests that a comparison between the birds from
New Guinea and D'Eiitrecasteaux' Island should he instituteil. In the liritish Museum are siicciinens from
both the aho\'e-named localities, as well as from Normanby Island, and I cannot jicrcch'c the least dlifercnce
between them, in size or colour. Mr. A. Goldic ])rocure(l several .specimens on Fergiisson or U'li^ntrecasteaux
Island, and the species has been met with in the same locality hy Dr. Loria, who also procured it
on Goodeuough Island.
The following is Dr. Sclater's original account of the sjiecies :—
" D r . Comrie has placed in my hands for determination some bird-skins collected by him while serving
as medical officer in H.M.S. 'Basilisk' during its recent survey of the south-east coast of New Gninea
under the command of Captain Moresl)y. The collection contains thirteen skins, helougin"- to eleven
species, of which one is quite new to science, and two others are oidy known from single specimens."
"This Maniicorlia," Dr. Sclatcr continues, "may be regarded as by far the finest and largest spccies of
the genus yet discovered. It is immediately distinguishable from llf. vhnlijljcia and M. atra by its much
larger size and longer bill, which is deeply sulcated at the nostrils. The characteristic curling of the
feathers is extended to a greater degree, a)id pervades the whole of the head and neck. The feathers of
the abdomen are hiack at the base, broadly margined with purple. Dr. Comrie obtained a single specimen
of this line bird in May 1874 in Huon Gulf. It was shot flying amongst the trees in tlie scrubhy forest,
about a quarter of a mile from the coast."
The egg of this species is described and figured by Mr. A. J. North in ihe ' Records ' of the Australian
Museum for 1892. The jihotographic illustration which accompanies Mr. North's paper represents an egg
of the type of those of the Birds of Paradise with which we have recently been made familiar.
Mr. North gives the following account of this interesting discovery :—" The Trnstees'of the Australian Musenm
have lately received from theliev. 1?. I I . Rickard the egg of yl/o/H/cof/iacOTJinV, taken by him on Fcrgii.sson
Island, ofli' the south-east coast of New Guinea, in July 1891. The Rev. Mr. Kickard informs me lhat from
the 20th of June to the 20th of July he had at various times engaged, in company with his black boy, in
shooting Mauucodcs on this island, hut rarely saw a female bird. Early in July he found a nest of ibis s|)ccies
ill the lower branches of a bread-fruit tree at a height of twenty-five feet from the ground. The female was
oil the nest, which was an oiien, loosely-made structure of vinelets and twigs, placed at the extremity of the
braiich. Having secured the bird, he found that she was in very indilferent ])Iumage, as though she had been
sitting for a long time, and the eggs, two in number, were chij)j)cd and just upon the ¡mint of hatching. ^I'lie
egg is an elongate ovoid in form, and is of a warm isabelline gronnd-coloiir, with purplish dots, blotches, and
bold longitudinal streaks, uniformly dispersed over the surfiice of the shell, intermingled with similar siiperinijiosed
markings of pur|ilisli grey. Length I'Go inch x l'13iuch."
The following is the description of ihe ty|)e specimen, from Huoii Gulf:—
Adult. Above velvety black, the feathers slightly recurved at the ends, with a subterminal mark of mefallic
green; scapulars metallic stecl-greeii, edged with velvety black; lesser and median wing-coverts stcclgrecii,
shot with ])urple, with a narrow fringe of velvety black ; greater coverts, primary-coverts, and qnills