_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
CAMPEPHAGA KARU.
Northern Campephaga.
_Lanius Karu_, Less. Zool. de la Coq., pl. 12.
_Notodela Karu_, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 374.
Mr. Gilbert, who met with this species at Port Essington on the northern
coast of Australia, states that it is a very shy and timid bird, that it
is generally seen creeping about in pairs among the thickets and clumps
of mangroves, that its note is a somewhat shrill piping call, that its
stomach is tolerably muscular, and that it feeds upon insects of various
kinds: this, I regret to say, is all that is known respecting it.
In referring this species to the _Lanius Karu_ of Lesson, I am rather
influenced by a desire not to add to the number of useless synonyms,
than from any positive conviction of their being identical; for
although, having only M. Lesson’s figure to refer to, I am unable to
detect any difference of sufficient importance to be considered
specific, little doubt exists in my mind that the two birds are really
distinct, and that future research will verify the propriety of this
opinion.
The male has the head, all the upper surface, wings and tail black; the
wing-coverts largely tipped, primaries narrowly edged and tipped,
secondaries broadly margined on their external webs, rump and upper
tail-coverts slightly, the external tail-feather largely, and the next
on each side slightly tipped with white; line from the nostrils over
each eye to the occiput buffy white; under surface pale grey, crossed on
the breast and flanks with narrow irregular bars of slaty black, and
washed with fulvous, gradually increasing in intensity until on the vent
and under tail-coverts it becomes of a deep tawny buff; irides dark
brown; bill black; feet blackish grey externally, bluish grey
internally; light mealy ashy grey between the scales and inside the
feet.
The female differs in being somewhat smaller than the male; in having
the upper surface and tail brown, instead of black; the upper
tail-coverts tipped with buff instead of white, and the barrings of the
under surface broader, darker and more distinct.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
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