N O T E S O N T W O S M A L L COLLECTIONS OF BIRDS F R O M NEW GUINEA by G. F. M E E S Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden INTRODUCTION
O v e r the past f e w years the R i j k s m u s e u m v a n N a t u u r l i j k e H i s t o r i e has received, f r o m d i f f e r e n t
sources, several small collections o f b i r d s f r o m
various parts o f N e w G u i n e a . T h i s is a report o n t w o o f these. N o ornithologist accompanied the e x p e d i t i o n to the Sterren-gebergte
(Star
M o u n t a i n s ) o f 1959, u n d e r the leadership o f D r . L . D . B r o n g e r s m a a n d Captain
( A i r ) G . F . Venema
(Brongersma
& V e n e m a , 1 9 6 0 ) , but the
m a m m a l preparator M r . J . J . Staats obtained a collection o f some 120 b i r d skins. T h e m a j o r i t y o f these are f r o m the highlands i n the Sterren-gebergte area, but a f e w specimens were collected i n the lowlands near H o l l a n d i a and T a n a h m e r a h . A l l localities w i t h their a p p r o x i m a t e altitudes are listed a n d most o f them are s h o w n o n the a c c o m p a n y i n g m a p . T h o u g h the collect i o n is s m a l l , a n d doubtless gives a v e r y incomplete picture o f the b i r d - l i f e i n the Sterren-gebergte,
it is important as the f i r s t collection ever
made
i n the area, so that it f i l l s a gap i n the k n o w n d i s t r i b u t i o n of a n u m b e r o f species. M o s t b i r d s obtained i n the Sterren-gebergte
belong to w i d e l y distributed
species a n d races, but it is interesting to note that of t w o species w h i c h have w e l l - d i f f e r e n t i a t e d eastern a n d western subspecies, Peneothello latus a n d Paramythia
montium,
the b i r d s f r o m the Sterren-gebergte
sigilbelong
to the eastern race a n d show n o approach to the western subspecies. I n a t h i r d case, Rhamphocharis
crassirostris,
I have felt j u s t i f i e d i n d e s c r i b i n g
the Sterren-gebergte population as a n e w subspecies, more o r less intermediate between k n o w n eastern a n d western races. T h e second collection, consisting o f one h u n d r e d skins, was purchased i n 1 9 6 0 f r o m M r . A . J . M . M o n s a n t o o f M e r a u k e . T h e b i r d s were collected i n the neighbourhood o f M e r a u k e , near the village E r a m b o e about 150 k m upstream o n the M e r a u k e R i v e r , a n d along the r i v e r W a n g g o i n the same
4
ZOOLOGISCHE VERHANDELINGEN
66
(
I964)
M E E S , BIRDS F R O M N E W G U I N E A
5
area. T h o u g h there is n o t h i n g n e w o r unexpected i n this collection, it contains specimens o f several f o r m s hitherto i n s u f f i c i e n t l y k n o w n , w h i c h has g i v e n me a n o p p o r t u n i t y to discuss these i n some detail. U n f o r t u n a t e l y I a m obliged to comment o n the quality o f the skins i n both collections, w h i c h varies f r o m average to rather poor. I n p a r t i c u l a r I regret that the s e x i n g is unreliable. A s a l l the material mentioned i n this report, w i t h but a v e r y f e w exceptions, has been collected i n 1 9 5 9 , the year o f collecting is only m e n t i o n e d w h e n it is not 1 9 5 9 . A l l measurements
are i n millimetres.
I have to thank the authorities o f the A m e r i c a n M u s e u m o f N a t u r a l H i s t o r y , N e w Y o r k , f o r the loan o f specimens o f some species o f m o u n t a i n birds.
LOCALITIES
T h e m a i n collecting localities are s h o w n o n the a c c o m p a n y i n g m a p , but some have been left out to a v o i d o v e r c r o w d i n g . A l l localities appearing o n labels are listed here, w i t h their altitudes above sea-level a n d , w h e n
they
are not s h o w n o n the map, a n i n d i c a t i o n o f their a p p r o x i m a t e p o s i t i o n . A f e w notes about some names i n the Sterren-gebergte area m a y be useful. O k means r i v e r . S i g i n is the name f o r watershed. A peculiarity w h i c h is mentioned here because it might easily cause c o n f u s i o n is that w h e n t w o rivers r u n o f f i n opposite directions f r o m the same watershed, they have the same name. T h u s
Ok-Tenma
S i g i n is the divide o f the O k - T e n m a ,
a n d o n both sides is a r i v e r named O k - T e n m a ; one a t r i b u t a r y o f the O k S i b i l , the other o f the O k - T s j o p .
Dojo Ifar Hollandia Denmatta Molbakon, a plain very near Denmatta Ok-Bokin near Denmatta Sibil, also called Mabilabol Bivak 34 on the Ok-Tsjop, about half way between Sibil and Nimdol Nimdol = Bivak 36 Ok-Tenma Sigin Ok-Tenma Bivak 39, between Nimdol and Antares, on the Western slope of the Antares Bivak 39a, between Nimdol and Antares, on the western slope of the Antares Bivak 40, Antares
lowlands 600m
lowlands 1800 m 1800 m 1800 m i26o-i29om
m m 1800 m 800 1220
1400-1700 m 1260
m
1500 m 2360 m
6
ZOOLOGISCHE
VERHANDELINGEN
66
3400 m 200 m lowlands lowlands coastal lowlands lowlands lowlands
Antares summit Katern Kouh Tanahmerah Merauke Eramboe Wanggo, a tributary of the Merauke River M a p s s h o w i n g the exact locations o f B i v a k & Venema
(i960:
fig.
(1964)
34-40
are g i v e n b y B r o n g e r s m a
10, 1 1 ) .
I n spelling o f geographical names i n D u t c h N e w G u i n e a I have f o l l o w e d the " A t l a s v a n T r o p i s c h N e d e r l a n d "
(1938);
names
f r o m the S t e r r e n -
gebergte area n o t appearing i n the m e n t i o n e d w o r k , are spelled as i n B r o n gersma & V e n e m a
(i960);
where large series o f material f r o m various
localities are listed (as i n Nectarinia
jugularis
a n d Cracticus
quoyi)
the
spelling is as i t appears o n the labels. N a m e s i n the eastern half o f N e w G u i n e a are w r i t t e n as I f o u n d them i n the consulted publicatons.
SYSTEMATIC
LIST
Podiceps novaehollandiae novaehollandiae O n e male f r o m S i b i l , culmen
20.
12
August, no. 2 8 8 7 3 . W i n g
O n e female f r o m the same locality,
15
Stephens
107,
tarsus
August, no.
exposed
36,
28872.
Wing
109, tarsus 3 7 , exposed c u l m e n 2 2 ^ 2 . E y e s yellow, legs grey-black. These b i r d s are clearly referable to the nominate race, as was to be e x pected because material f r o m the H a b b e m a - m e e r also belongs to this race (Mayr,
1943).
T h e species breeds at S i b i l
(cf. Brongersma & Venema,
i960: 4 0 ) .
A r d e a novaehollandiae novaehollandiae L a t h a m T w o females f r o m S i b i l ,
8
July and
16
September, nos.
28877,
28878.
W i n g 3 2 3 , 3 2 9 ; tail 1 2 0 , 1 2 6 ; tarsus 9 2 , 9 7 , exposed c u l m e n 7 8 , 80%. E y e s yellow, b i l l d a r k blue to black, legs g r e y i s h yellow.
E g r e t t a alba modesta ( J . E . G r a y ) O n e male f r o m T a n a h m e r a h ,
4
September, n o .
28874.
Wing
361,
tail
122, tarsus 1 5 6 , exposed c u l m e n n o . B i l l yellow, legs black.
E g r e t t a intermedia plumifera ( G o u l d ) T w o females f r o m S i b i l ,
12
and
13
M a y , nos.
28875, 28876.
Wing
282,
MEES,
287;
tail
114,
126;
tarsus
BIRDS F R O M N E W G U I N E A
95, 97;
exposed c u l m e n
7
74^,
E y e s yellow,
8o>4.
b i l l black, legs black. T h e altitude of collecting, 1 2 6 0 m , is h i g h f o r this l o w l a n d species. Nycticorax caledonicus hilli M a t h e w s O n e female f r o m S i b i l ,
18
A p r i l , no.
28880.
Wing
286,
tail
tarsus
96,
81,
exposed c u l m e n 7 2 . Dupetor flavicollis gouldi (Bonaparte) One male from Sibil, 23 June, no. 28879. Wing 210, tail 72, tarsus 66y , 2
exposed c u l m e n 7 8 . I r i s yellow, b i l l black a n d yellow, legs b r o w n .
O n e male f r o m M e r a u k e ,
24
F e b r u a r y , no.
Wing
30080.
tail
206,
tarsus
70,
6 0 , exposed c u l m e n 7 7 . I r i s d a r k yellow, b i l l black a n d white, legs grey-black. Accipiter fasciatus dogwa R a n d O n e male f r o m M e r a u k e ,
M a r c h , no.
25
30082.
Wing
226,
tail
161,
tarsus 6 1 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 16, weight 2 3 0 grams. O n e male f r o m the same locality, without exact date, but collected i n
1959,
no.
30084.
Wing
2 1 6 , tail 1 6 4 , tarsus 6 1 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 14^2. O n e b i r d labelled as a male, but probably a female, f r o m the same locality,
5
A p r i l , no.
30083.
W i n g 2 3 9 , tail 1 8 7 , tarsus 7 0 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 17. N o n e of these b i r d s is i n adult plumage, a n d I list them as dogwa
on
geographical grounds only. Accipiter melanochlamys subsp. O n e male f o m B i v a k
39,
Antares,
26
J u n e , no.
28881.
Wing
213,
tail
133,
tarsus 6 2 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 16. E y e s yellow, legs yellow. T h o u g h labelled as a female, this is clearly a n adult male. T h e species is new to the L e i d e n collection. A s the v a l i d i t y of the subspecies schistacinus questionable (cf. M a y r ,
is
I leave the subspecific i d e n t i t y of this speci-
1940),
m e n open. It was taken at a n altitude of 1 2 6 0 m , slightly below the l o w e r limit
(1500
m ) g i v e n by M a y r
(1941).
Falco longipennis subsp. O n e female f r o m M e r a u k e ,
19
M a y , no.
30081.
Wing
271,
tail
137,
tarsus
3 4 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 15^4. Condon & Amadon
(1954)
recognized t w o A u s t r a l i a n races,
longipennis
a n d murchisonianus, either of w h i c h m i g h t occur i n N e w G u i n e a . Because o f lack of comparative material I p r e f e r to list this specimen b i n o m i n a l l y . Incidentally, Falco
religiosus
pennis murchisonianus
S h a r p e m a y be a n older name f o r Falco
Mathews.
longi-
8
ZOOLOGISCHE
VERHANDELINGEN
66
Falco berigora novaeguineae O n e male f r o m S i b i l ,
24
A u g u s t , no.
(1964)
(Meyer) Wing
28882.
347,
tail
tarsus
187,
7 9 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 2 1 . E y e s yellow, legs grey. Esacus magnirostris ( V i e i l l o t ) O n e male f r o m M e r a u k e ,
M a y , no.
18
W i n g about
30085.
280,
tail
115,
tarsus 9 0 , exposed c u l m e n 7 5 . I r i s yellow, b i l l black, basally yellow, legs yellow. Ptilinopus rivoli bellus Sclater O n e male f r o m O k - T e n m a , 23,
exposed c u l m e n
16.
19
M a y , no.
28884.
O n e male f r o m S i b i l ,
23
Wing
138,
J u n e , no.
tail
28885.
74,
tarsus
Wing
136,
tail 6 7 , tarsus 24J/2, exposed c u l m e n 16. E y e s orange, b i l l yellow, legs red. These specimens have a more b l u i s h tinge r o u n d the eyes a n d o n the c r o w n than the older material i n o u r collection. Ptilinopus aurantiifrons G . R . G r a y O n e male f r o m the W a n g g o ,
A u g u s t , no.
2
30088.
Wing
tail
136,
66,
tarsus 2 3 , exposed c u l m e n 18. Megaloprepia magnifica puella O n e female f r o m the W a n g g o ,
25
J u l y , no.
(Lesson)
30086.
Wing
161,
tail
131,
tarsus 2 1 , exposed c u l m e n 15. O n e female f r o m E r a m b o e , 14 O c t o b e r 1 9 5 8 , no.
30087.
Wing
162,
tail
131,
tarsus
22,
exposed c u l m e n
16%.
These b i r d s are as y e l l o w o n the under tail coverts as specimens
from
f a r t h e r west, a n d show no approach to poliura w h i c h has greenish u n d e r tail coverts. R a n d
(1942a)
believed that interposita
could be maintained o n the
basis of large size as w e l l as some colour characters, but I agree w i t h J u n g e (1937)
who s y n o n y m i z e d interposita
w i t h puella.
M a c r o p y g i a amboinensis kerstingi R e i c h e n o w T w o males f r o m the W a n g g o , Wing
28
July and
3
A u g u s t , nos.
30089,
30090.
1 6 8 , 1 6 8 ; t a i l 1 6 3 , 1 7 3 ; tarsus — , 223/2; exposed c u l m e n 16, 17.
B o t h specimens have v e r y w o r n tails. Reinwardtoena reinwardtii griseotincta H a r t e r t O n e male f r o m S i b i l ,
18
A u g u s t , no.
28883.
Wing
2 5 , exposed c u l m e n 1 9 ^ . E y e s red, b i l l red, legs red.
239,
tail
284,
tarsus
MEES,
9
BIRDS F R O M N E W G U I N E A
I n literature the species is generally k n o w n as Reinwardtoena
reinwardtsi,
a n d it is true that i n the o r i g i n a l description ( T e m m i n c k , 1 8 2 4 ) the name appears as Columba
reinwardtsi.
H o w e v e r , the b i r d was expressly
dedicated
to: " M . le professeur R e i n w a r d t . . . le savant professeur auquel nous dédions Tune des nouvelles espèces de P i g e o n s , rapportées p a r l u i d ' u n voyage entrep r i s sur une corvette équipée à J a v a , p a r o r d r e d u gouvernement B a s , dans l T n d e " . M o r e o v e r , i n de table of contents ( T e m m i n c k , 1 8 3 9 ) , the name is g i v e n as Columba therefore,
that
reinwardtsi
des P a y s -
(Tableau
méthodique)
Reinwardtii.
It is clear,
is o n l y a m i s p r i n t f o r
reinwardtii,
and
that
T e m m i n c k ' s correction is v a l i d ( S t o l l & a l . , 1 9 6 1 , art. 3 2 , a, i i ) . Trichoglossus haematodus caeruleiceps D ' A l b e r t i s & O n e unsexed tail 9 8 , tarsus
Salvadori
specimen f r o m M e r a u k e , 15 J u n e , no. 3 0 1 2 0 . W i n g
139,
17, c u l m e n f r o m cere 18.
A s pointed out b y previous authors ( v a n O o r t , 1 9 0 9 ; R a n d , 1 9 4 1 ; C a i n , 1955),
this race d i f f e r s f r o m nigrogularis
of the A r o e Islands o n l y i n its
slightly smaller size. Charmosyna placentis placentis O n e male f r o m E r a m b o e , 4
September,
(Temminck)
no. 3 0 1 2 4 . W i n g 8 8 , t a i l 6 5 ,
tarsus 12J/2, c u l m e n f r o m cere i o y . 2
Opopsitta gulielmitertii fuscifrons
(Salvadori)
T w o males f r o m E r a m b o e , both 3 0 J u l y , nos. 3 0 1 2 2 , 3 0 1 2 3 . W i n g
77,
8 1 , tail 2 9 , 3 2 , tarsus 9 ^ , 11, c u l m e n f r o m cere 11, 11. O n e female, same date a n d locality, no. 3 0 1 2 1 . W i n g 8 0 , tail 3 1 , tarsus 10, c u l m e n f r o m cere 11. T h e d u s k y coloration of the forehead reaches less f a r backwards i n these specimens than i n a series f r o m A l k m a a r o n the L o r e n t z - r i v i e r . T h e
fore-
heads are g r e y i s h without any trace of blue, hence they show no approach to
suavissimus. Neopsittacus musschenbroekii major N e u m a n n T w o females f r o m S i b i l , 16 a n d 2 0 A u g u s t , nos. 2 8 9 0 0 , 2 8 9 0 1 . W i n g n o ,
113; tail 8 5 , 9 0 ; tarsus 1 3 ^ , 17; c u l m e n f r o m cere 1 5 ^ , 16. E y e s yellow, b i l l y e l l o w , legs grey. G i l l i a r d & L e c r o y ( 1 9 6 1 ) placed their material f r o m the V i c t o r E m a n u e l a n d H i n d e n b u r g M o u n t a i n s i n major,
o n the g r o u n d of h a v i n g rather y e l l o w -
i s h cheeks. C o m p a r i s o n of m y specimens
w i t h a series f r o m the W i s s e l -
m e r e n area does not bear out this d i f f e r e n c e ;
there is a great deal o f i n -
ZOOLOGISCHE
10
VERHANDELINGEN
66
(1964)
d i v i d u a l v a r i a t i o n a n d even the t w o S i b i l specimens d i f f e r inter se, no. h a v i n g lores a n d cheeks distinctly greener than no. r i a l of neither medius n o r major
28900
T o p o t y p i c a l mate-
28901.
has been available to me, but i n v i e w of
G i l l i a r d & L e c r o y ' s remarks I see no reason not to list the S i b i l b i r d s as major.
F u r t h e r m o r e , I regard it as l i k e l y that medius w i l l have to be synony-
m i z e d w i t h major,
the latter h a v i n g p r i o r i t y .
Larius roratus pectoralis (Statius O n e male f r o m M e r a u k e ,
M a y , no.
23
30116.
Müller)
Wing
tail
253,
tarsus
133,
2 4 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 4 3 . Geoffroyus
geoffroyi aruensis ( G . R . G r a y )
O n e male f r o m the W a n g g o , 19,
c u l m e n f r o m cere
1934.
J u l y , no.
22
30117.
Wing
O n e male f r o m E r a m b o e ,
19
158,
tail
tarsus
68,
A u g u s t , no.
30119.
W i n g 152, tail 6 4 , tarsus 2 0 , c u l m e n f r o m cere 19. O n e female f r o m the Wanggo,
3
A u g u s t , no.
Wing
30118.
118,
tail
68^4,
tarsus
i8>4,
culmen
f r o m cere 2 1 . Cacomantis variolosus infaustus Cabanis & H e i n e O n e specimen of u n k n o w n sex f r o m S i b i l ,
1
September, no.
28909.
Wing
116, tail 9 8 , tarsus 16, entire c u l m e n 2 8 , exposed c u l m e n 18. Chrysococcyx lucidus lucidus ( J . F . G m e l i n ) O n e male ( ? ) f r o m M e r a u k e ,
A p r i l , no.
8
Wing
30095.
99,
tail
tarsus
58,
16, entire c u l m e n i 8 j ^ , exposed c u l m e n 14. Chrysococcyx lucidus plagosus O n e male f r o m B i v a k
39a,
Antares,
6
J u l y , no.
(Latham) 28910.
Wing
103,
tail
71,
tarsus 18, entire c u l m e n 17, exposed c u l m e n 13. O n e specimen of uncertain sex f r o m M e r a u k e ,
11
M a y , no.
30093.
Wing
99,
tail
64,
tarsus
entire
19,
c u l m e n 18, exposed c u l m e n 1 3 ^ . Chrysococcyx malayanus russatus G o u l d O n e specimen of uncertain sex f r o m M e r a u k e ,
6
M a y , no.
30094.
Wing
1 0 0 , t a i l 6 4 , entire c u l m e n 1 7 ^ , exposed c u l m e n 1 4 ^ . T h e large w i n g of this specimen c o n f i r m s the statement of & Paludan
(1935)
other h a n d , R a n d
Stresemann
that M e r a u k e is inhabited by the race russatus. (1942a)
O n the
f o u n d that specimens f r o m L a k e D a v i u m b u are
MEES,
BIRDS FROM N E W
smaller a n d have to be called poecilurus.
11
GUINEA
L a c k o f comparative material f r o m
A u s t r a l i a makes it d i f f i c u l t f o r me to f o r m a n independent o p i n i o n , but I want to point out that o n the basis of the particulars supplied by H a r t e r t &
Stresemann ( 1 9 2 5 ) :
a n inconstant average d i f f e r e n c e
the cross-bars o n the breast a n d a n average d i f f e r e n c e (poecilurus russatus
russatus
86-96,
92-99),
as d i f f e r e n t f r o m
i n the w i d t h o f i n size o f
wing
there seems little reason the m a i n t a i n
poecilurus.
Eudynamis cyanocephala subcyanocephala M a t h e w s O n e female f r o m M e r a u k e ,
26
J u n e , no.
30092.
Wing
201,
tail
196,
tarsus
3 3 ^ 4 , entire c u l m e n 3 6 , exposed c u l m e n 30J/2. Centropus phasianinus thierfelderi Stresemann O n e unsexed j u v e n i l e f r o m M e r a u k e ,
10
J u n e , no.
30091.
Podargus papuensis Q u o y & G a i m a r d O n e male f r o m S i b i l , culmen f r o m skull
48.
6
A u g u s t , no.
28886.
Wing
O n e female, same locality,
296, 24
tail
240,
tarsus
A u g u s t , no.
28,
28887.
W i n g 3 0 9 , tail 2 8 5 , tarsus 2 9 , c u l m e n f r o m skull 4 8 . E y e s red, legs y e l l o w i s h . T h e female has m u c h rust colour i n the plumage, the male is almost e n t i r e l y without rust colour. F o r a discussion of v a r i a t i o n I refer to M a y r & Rand
(1937),
and M a y r
(1937).
Caprimulgus macrurus y o r k i M a t h e w s O n e female f r o m the W a n g g o ,
25
J u l y , no.
30098.
Hemiprocne mystacea mystacea O n e male f r o m the W a n g g o ,
J u l y , no.
29
Wing
176,
tail
135.
(Lesson)
30100.
Wing
212,
tail
164.
T h e s u r p r i s i n g l y small size of this apparently adult specimen caused me to re-investigate the status of the race confirmata, (1914)
established by Stresemann
e x c l u s i v e l y o n the basis of small size.
T h e o l d material f r o m the L e i d e n M u s e u m was measured a n d recorded b y Stresemann, a n d therefore I o n l y m e n t i o n specimens w h i c h have been received since his time. F r o m the M o l u c c a s
(confirmata):
A m b o n , 6 2 1 7 , 2 2 4 ; ? 2 2 1 ; sex u n -
certain 2 0 8 , 2 1 6 ; H a r o e k o e , ? 2 3 6 . F r o m N e w G u i n e a (mystacea):
S o r o n g ,
