B IC E JO ScLater.
DICÆUM EXIMIUM, Sclater.
Brown Dicæum.
Dicceum eximium, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 102, pi. xiv. fig. 2.
T he home of this beautiful little bird, justly named eximium, is New Ireland, where it was procured by
Mr. George Brown in March 1876. In describing the bird, Dr. Sclater remarked that it was different
from any species known to him ; and in looking over my series o f Dicæidæ, I cannot find any single one
which approaches it in style o f coloration. Indeed it is seldom that such a very distinct species comes to
our notice in these days; and we may fairly suppose th at the group o f islands where Mr. Brown worked
will yield many further discoveries in natural science as they become better explored.
I have copied below the original description given by Dr. Sclater ; and 1 can scarcely agree with him that
the Dicceum ceneum o f M essrs. Jacquimot and Pucheran (Voy. Pôle Sud, Zool. iii. p. 9 7 ) is likely to turn out
to be the female o f the present bird. The last-named species is said to have been procured in the Solomon
Islands ; and perhaps a translation o f the description may be useful for comparison. I t is as follows
Grey, with bronzy reflections on the head, back, and upper wing-çoverts ; throat white, somewhat tinged
with yellow, this yellow colour being a little more pronounced on the thorax ; middle of abdomen white, the
sides yellowish olive ; quills blackish above, with the inner webs edged with clear greyish ; under wing-
coverts white, and the wing below ashy grey ; the grey colour occupies also the sides o f the neck, and
impinges somewhat on the median line ; quills blue-black, duller below ; their coverts in the latter sense
are yellow, somewhat inclining to whitish ; the iris is yellow ; bill and feet blue-black, with a little yellow
at the base o f the lower mandible.
The following is Dr. Sclater’s original diagnosis o f D. eximium :— Above dark bronzy green, the crown
and sides o f the head browner ; rump crimson ; under surface of body white, with a narrow pectoral band
of crimson ; sides of body and middle o f belly dusky slate-colour ; the flanks bronzy, as on the back ; under
wing-coverts white. Total length 3 -3 inches, wing 2*0, tail TO.
The figure in the Plate is taken from the type specimen lent to me by Dr. Sclater, to whom, and to
the Marquis o f Tweeddale, I am under great obligations for allowing me to figure so many of the fine
novelties discovered by Mr. George Brown.