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C N E M O P H I L U S M A C G R E G O R I I , De Vis.
M a c g - r e g o r ' s Bird of Paradise.
Xauthomehs macgrcgori, Goodwin, Ibis, 18i)0, p. 153,
CnemopUlns macgngorii. De Vis, Ann. Rep. Brit. New Guinea, p. fil (:S!)0).—Id. Colon. Papers, no. 103, p. IID
(1800).—Id. Ibis, 18!)1, p. 40.—Sdater, Ibis, 1801, p. 414, pi. x.
THIS remarkable form was discovered by Sir William Macgregor diiriiig bis e.\pedition to tbe Oiven Stanb'V
Mountains, and was procured at Moiint Knutsford, at an elevation of 11,000 feet. Tbe only specimen as
yet known is an adnlt male, wbicb is at present ii] tbe Qneeiisland Museum, but tbe courteous Director,
Mr. C. W. De Vis, sent it over to Europe to Dr. Sclater, wbo described and figured it in ' The Ibis.'
Mr. Goodwin, wbo visited England shortly after the close of the Macgregor E.fpedition, to which he was
attached as one of tbe naturalists, communicated an account of the Birds of Paradise observed by him to
' Tbe Ibis,' and gave a description of this species from memory, ivliich is characterized by Count Halvadori
as a " descriptio incompleta." Mr. De Vis, however, to wlioni was intrusted the description of tbe
natural-history objects obtained by the e.vpedition, gave a very full description of tlie species, for which he
created the name of CnemopMlus. That be was right in ])lacing it in a distinct geims is beyond question.
Dr. Sclater, in his paper on the species, has so well summarized its characters that I cajujot do better than
(]uote his remarks;—
" T h e r e is certainly a general resemblance in colour and shape between Cnemnplulus and Xanthomdns, and
the feet in both forms are large and strong, although this feature is carried to a niiicb greater extent in
Xunthomelm, whicli has the tarsi much stronger and rather longer than CuemophUus. In Xanthomelus,
moreover, the scnteliations of the front of the tarsus are vvell marked, whereas in CjieinophUus the scutella
are fused into one nearly unifurm plate. The wings of Ciicmophilus are much sliorter and more rounded
than those of Xanthomelus. But it is in the bill of these two forms that tlie greatest divergence is
observable.
" In Xanthomelus the bill is long and strong, the loral plumes are short, and the base of the bill, nostrils,
and euhninal ridge are quite bare. In Cnemophilus tlie bill is shorter and not so thick, the loral plumes are
elongated, projecting forwards, and covering the base of the bill so far as to partially cover the nostrils.
Besides this the frontal plumes are elongated and elevated into a compressed ridge, which is carried forward
over tbe culnien and backward to the base of tbe very singular thin crest, composed of five or si.x lengtliened
feathers, which sj)ring nji immediately bebintl tbe front.
" In these last characters Cnemophilus is quite distinct from other birds, but obviously approaches
D'tphgllodes. I should be disposed, therefore, to ]il;ice Cnemophilus along with the Paradise-liirds i-ather
than along with the Bower-birds, if these two groups are to be kcj)t apart. But there can be no doubt that
the liower-birds are closely allied to tbe Paradise-birds, and several well-known recent authorities have
united them into one family."
Tbe figure in the Plate has been drawn from a jiicture painted by Mr. Keidenians from the type specimen
which Mr. De Vis so kindly sent to England for e.vamination.