Family.No. of
species.
CorvidæCrows2
ParadiseidæBirds-of-Paradise, Bower-Birds and Manucodes13
EulabetidæTree-Starlings4
DicruridæDrongos2
OriolidæOrioles1
PloceidæWeaver-Finches1
MotacillidæWagtails2
MeliphagidæHoney-eaters26
NectariniidæSun-birds2
DicæidæFlower-peckers2
ZosteropidæWhite-eyes1
LaniidæShrikes8
PrionopidæWood-Shrikes4
ArtamidæSwallow-Shrikes1
TimeliidæBabblers4
CampophagidæCuckoo-Shrikes11
MuscicapidæFlycatchers30
HirundinidæSwallows2
PittidæPittas or Ant-Thrushes2
CuculidæCuckoos11
CypselidæSwifts4
CaprimulgidæNightjars2
PodargidæFrog-mouths3
BucerotidæHornbills1
MeropidæBee-eaters1
CoraciidæRollers2
AlcedinidæKingfishers11
PsittacidæParrots}22
LoriidæLories or Brush-tongued Parrots
BubonidæHorned and Wood-Owls7
PhalacrocoracidæCormorants1
AnatidæDucks2
IbididæIbises1
ArdeidæHerons4
ŒdicnemidæStone-Plovers1
CharadriidæPlovers8
LaridæGulls and Terns2
RallidæRails1
ColumbidæPigeons26
MegapodiidæMegapodes or Mound-builders3
CasuariidæCassowaries3
——
Total 235

From the above table it will be seen that out of 235 species procured, 150 are included in eight of the Families; viz. Birds-of-Paradise 13; Honey-eaters 26; Cuckoo-Shrikes 11; Flycatchers 30; Cuckoos, 11; Kingfishers 11; Parrots, 22; Pigeons, 26.

FAMILY CORVIDAÆ—CROWS.

Though the true Crows are never brightly coloured birds, many are extremely handsome, but this epithet cannot be applied to the Bare-faced Crow (Gymnocorax senex) which is common on the Mimika River and distributed over New Guinea generally.

The adult is brownish-black with a slight purplish or bluish gloss on the wings, but is generally in worn and shabby plumage. Even when freshly moulted it is rather a disreputable looking bird, its naked pink face, pale watery blue eyes, slate-coloured bill and livid feet adding to its dissipated appearance. Young birds in their first year’s plumage are even plainer than their parents, being dull drab-brown inclining to brownish-white on the head and neck, and appear to be clad in sackcloth and ashes. They have a weak uncrow-like call pitched in a high key and their flight is feeble and seldom sustained.

In addition to this Crow of unprepossessing appearance, there is a handsome Raven (Corvus orru), much like our familiar bird but smaller, which was met with in pairs on the coast.

FAMILY PARADISEIDÆ—BIRDS-OF-PARADISE AND BOWER-BIRDS.

Closely allied to the well-known Greater Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisea apoda) from the Aru Islands is the New Guinea form P. novæ-guineæ, the males being distinguished by their smaller size and by having the long ornamental side-plumes of a much richer orange-yellow. Though the call of this bird was frequently heard on the upper parts of the Mimika, it was rarely seen; but on the Wataikwa quite a number were procured in all stages of plumage. The species was, however, nowhere plentiful and confined to the foot-hills.