: ^ W T H O M E ] L U S A S D E N S , lYAlhevl. & Salva,t.
XANTHOMELUS ARDENS, UAi b . Saioad.
Southern Golden Bird of Paradise.
Sericulus aureus (pt.), D'Alb. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. YÌÌ. p. 798 (1876).—Id. op. cit. x. pp. 14, 20 (1877).
XantAomehis aureus ?, D'Alb. & Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. xiv. p. 113 (1879).—D'Alb. Nuova Guinea, pp. 211,
388, 493, 688 (1880).
Xanthomelus ardem, D'Alb. & Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. xiv. p. 113 (1879).—Salvad. Ora. Papuasia, etc. ii.
p. 663 (1881).—Id. Aggiunte Ora. Papuasia, etc. ii. p. 165 (1890).—Sharpe, Bull. B. 0 . C. iv. p. xiv
(1894).
a-iohs ardem, Musschenbr. Dagboek, pp. 210, 237 (1883).—Rosenb. Mitth. ora. Ver. Wien, 1885, p. 54.
T H I S species, vvhicli is a soutliern representative of X. aureus, was discovered hy Signor D'Albcrtis on the
Fly River, where lie procured a native shin of a male and also a perfect sliin of a young bird. He says
tliat the phinies of ihis liird are worn by the natives of tlie Fly Ri\er as ornaments. No one ajjpcars to
have met with the species since the visit ofD'Alhertis to this part of New Guinea.
Adult mule. Similar to X ffw««', but of a much more brilliant and fiery red on the head, neck, and
mantle.
Young male. Above brown, washed witli ashy grey on the edges of llie feathers of the scapnlars
and mantle, all of which have yellow shafts ; quills brown, externally yellowish browji or golden olive, some
of the wing-coverts and scapulars washed externally vvith the latter colour; tail-feathers washed with asliy
along the outer webs ; head and neck lighter brown than the back, the feathers on the sides of the neck
longer and forming a frill ; sides of face and ear-covcrts light brown, the latter rufescent; chin isabclline,
fading off into the yellow of the throat, which is pale and forms a narrow band shut in by the frilled sides of
the neck ; all the rest of the under surtace of the body bright golden yellow, paler on the thighs ; sides of
upper breast slightly washed with light brown ; under wing-coverts, axillaries, and quill-lining also bright
golden yellow : "bill reddish brown, yellow at base of lower mandihie; feet olivaceous leaden grey; iridcs
yellow " {D'Jlbertis). Total length 10 inches, ciilmen M , wing 5'4, tail 2-8, tarsus 175.
The figures and descriptions given are taken fron the type specimens kindly lent me by the
Marquis Doria.