_Drawn from Nature & on Stone by J. & E. Gould._ _Printed by C.
Hullmandel._
]
PACHYCEPHALA PECTORALIS, _Vig. and Horsf._
Banded Thick-head.
_Muscicapa pectoralis_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., p. li.—Vieill. 2nde
Edit, du Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxi. p. 455, and
Ency. Méth., 2nde Part., p. 830.
_Orange-breasted Thrush_, Lewin, Birds of New Holland, pl. 8.
_Pachycephala pectoralis_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv.
p. 239.—Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, Part III.
—— _striata_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 240, female
or young male?
_Lanius macularius_, Quoy et Gaim., Voy. de l’Astrolabe, p. 257. pl.
31. f. 1, young male?
_Rufous-vented Honey-eater_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 183.
This very common species ranges over the whole of the southern portion
of the Australian continent, from Swan River on the west to Moreton Bay
on the east; but the extent of its range northwards has not yet been
strictly determined. During the spring and the earlier months of summer
there are few birds that possess a more animated and lively song, which,
moreover, is very different from any bird I recollect having heard,
either in Australia or Europe, being a loud continuous ringing whistle,
frequently terminating in a sharp smack, this latter note being peculiar
to most members of the group. In New South Wales and South Australia it
is abundantly dispersed over all the thinly-timbered forests, keeping
among the leafy branches of the highest trees. I do not myself recollect
having met with it in the brushes, while in Western Australia the thick
scrubs are said to be its favourite places of resort.
Although it does not migrate it makes a slight change in the situations
it frequents, according to the state of the seasons, or the more or less
abundant supply of food, which consists of insects of various kinds,
caterpillars and berries: like the other members of the group, it creeps
and hops about the branches in a gentle and quiet manner.
The sexes, as will be seen in the accompanying illustration, differ very
considerably both in the arrangement of their markings and in the
general colouring of their plumage, and it is not until the second year
that the young males assume the band on the chest and the pure white
throat of the adult. The breeding-season commences in August or
September, and continues during the three following months. The nest is
cup-shaped, and rather a frail structure, being often so slight that the
eggs may be descried through the interstices of the fine twigs and
fibrous roots of which it is composed. In New South Wales I found the
nest is built upon the small horizontal branches of large trees, but at
Swan River it is more frequently constructed in shrubs, particularly the
_Melaleuca_: the eggs are generally three in number, of an olive tint,
with a zone of indistinct spots and blotches at the larger end; they are
eleven lines long by eight lines broad.
The male has the throat white, encircled by a broad band of black, which
commences at the base of the bill, surrounds the eye, passes down the
sides of the neck, and crosses the breast; forehead and crown dark grey,
with a small stripe of black down the centre of each feather; the
remainder of the upper surface dark grey; wings and tail blackish brown,
each feather margined on the outer web with dark grey; sides of the
breast and flanks grey; centre of the breast, abdomen, and under
tail-coverts orange-brown; irides reddish hazel; bill black; legs and
feet olive-black.
The female has the head and all the upper surface brownish grey; wings
and tail dark brown, margined on the exterior webs with brownish grey;
throat dull white, gradually passing into the tawny buff which covers
the whole of the under surface, each feather of the throat and under
surface having a narrow stripe of dark brown down the centre; irides
blackish brown; bill flesh-brown; corner of the mouth yellow; feet
lead-colour.
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PACHYCEPHALA FALCATA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PACHYCEPHALA FALCATA, _Gould_.
Lunated Pachycephala.
_Pachycephala falcata_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 134.
We find in this species of _Pachycephala_, which inhabits the northern
parts of Australia, a beautiful representative of the _P. pectoralis_ of
the southern parts of the continent; from which it differs in its much
smaller size, and in the black crescent which bounds the white throat of
the male not extending upwards to the ear-coverts, which with the lores
are grey. All the specimens I possess were killed on the Cobourg
Peninsula, near the settlement at Port Essington, where, as well as on
the adjacent islands, it is a stationary species, and very abundant. It
breeds in September and the two following months, and lays two eggs. Its
habits and manners are precisely similar to those of the other members
of the family.
The adult male has the crown of the head, lores, ear-coverts, back and
upper tail-coverts grey; wings dark brown, all the feathers margined
with grey; throat white, bounded below by a distinct crescent of black;
abdomen, flanks and under tail-coverts orange-brown; tail dark brown,
the basal portion of the webs edged with grey; irides reddish brown;
bill black; feet blackish brown.
The adult female has the crown of the head and all the upper surface
grey; ear-coverts brownish grey; throat buffy white, passing into light
buff or fawn-colour on the chest, flanks, abdomen and under
tail-coverts; the feathers of the throat and chest with a narrow dark
line down the centre; wings and tail as in the male.
The young male is similar in colour to the female, but has the throat
whiter and the markings on the chest much more distinct, and extending
over the abdomen also.
In very young individuals a rich rufous or tawny tint pervades the
greater part of the upper surface.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PACHYCEPHALA LANOÏDES: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PACHYCEPHALA LANOÏDES, _Gould_.
Shrike-like Pachycephala.
_Pachycephala Lanoïdes_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p.
142.
A single specimen only of this bird has come under my notice, and from
the locality in which it was procured, the north-west coast of
Australia, it is probable that it is the only one in Europe. On
reference to the figure on the Plate, it will be seen that it is a most
robust and powerful species, and that it so closely approximates to the
form of the genus _Lanius_, that had it been a native of any other
country than Australia, where the true Shrikes are not found, it might
have been referred to that genus.
That it feeds on insects of a large size there can be but little doubt,
its whole structure indicating that it exists upon this kind of food.
No information whatever has been obtained with respect to its habits and
economy; this blank therefore remains to be filled up by those
naturalists who may hereafter visit the part of the country of which it
is a denizen.
Crown of the head, ear-coverts and chest black, bounded posteriorly by a
narrow band of chestnut; throat, centre of the abdomen and under
tail-coverts white; flanks, back, shoulders and external webs of the
primaries, secondaries and wing-coverts grey; tail, bill and feet black.
The Plate represents the bird in two different positions, of the natural
size.
[Illustration:
PACHYCEPHALA RUFOGULARIS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PACHYCEPHALA RUFOGULARIS, _Gould_.
Red-throated Pachycephala.
_Pachycephala rufogularis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII.
p. 164.
I have never seen this species of _Pachycephala_ in any other collection
than my own; all the specimens therein contained fell to my own gun
during my explorations in South Australia: I found it anything but
abundant; in fact, although I was constantly seeking it, many days
frequently elapsed without my procuring a specimen. Its stronghold,
probably a part of the vast country of the interior, has yet to be
discovered. From the little I saw of it, I am induced to believe that it
is a very solitary bird, for I always encountered it singly, and mostly
hopping about on the ground in the thinly-timbered forest which
surrounds the city of Adelaide. Its actions were so particularly quiet,
and its plumage so unattractive, that had not my attention been directed
to birds of a sombre hue as well as to those of gay attire, I might have
easily overlooked it. I never heard it utter any note, nor did I observe
anything in its habits and economy worthy of remark. It doubtless
resorted to the ground for coleopterous and other insects, the remains
of which formed the contents of the stomachs of those I procured.
The adult males and females differ considerably in the colouring of
their plumage; the young males resemble the females. The rusty colouring
of the throat and face distinguishes this species from every other
member of the genus.
As South Australia is the only country in which this rare species has
yet been discovered, and as nothing whatever is known of its history, I
would call the attention of future collectors to the subject, with a
view of procuring information respecting it; and when I state that my
specimens were procured within two miles of the city of Adelaide, it
will be admitted that I am not imposing too great a task on my talented
friend Governor Grey, and the other residents at Adelaide.
The male has the crown of the head and all the upper surface deep
brownish grey; wings and tail dark brown, the feathers margined with
greyish brown; lores, chin, throat, under surface of the shoulder and
all the under surface reddish sandy brown, crossed on the breast by a
broad irregular band of greyish brown; irides reddish brown; bill black;
feet blackish brown.
The female differs from the male in having the throat and under surface
greyish white, the chest being crossed by an obscure mark of greyish
brown, and with a line down the centre of each feather.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PACHYCEPHALA GILBERTII: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PACHYCEPHALA GILBERTII, _Gould_.
Gilbert’s Pachycephala.
_Pachycephala Gilbertii_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XII. p.
107.
Although the practice of naming species after individuals is a means by
which the names of men eminent for their scientific attainments may be
perpetuated to after-ages, I have ever questioned its propriety, and
have rarely resorted to it; but in assigning the name of _Gilbertii_ to
this new and interesting species, I feel that I am only paying a just
compliment to one who has most assiduously assisted me in the laborious
investigations required for the production of the present work, and who
was the discoverer of the birds forming the subject of this paper. The
specimens transmitted to me by Mr. Gilbert are I believe all that have
yet been procured.
Although the _P. Gilbertii_ is nearly allied to the _P. rufogularis_, it
may be readily distinguished by the rufous colouring being confined to
the throat, and not ascending upon the forehead and occupying the space
between the bill and the eyes as in that species; it is also a smaller
bird in all its admeasurements.
Gilbert’s Pachycephala is an inhabitant of the interior of Western
Australia. The following notes, which are all that is known of its
history, accompanied the specimens sent to me:—“This species inhabits
the thick brushes of the interior. It is an early breeder, as is proved
by my finding a nest with three newly-hatched young birds in the middle
of August. The nest was built in the upright fork of a small shrub about
four feet from the ground. It was deep, cup-shaped in form, and
constructed of dried grasses, and except that it was rather more
compactly built, it was very similar to those of the other members of
the genus.”
I trust that the publication of this species will induce Mr. Burgess,
Mr. Drummond and other residents in Western Australia to seek for and
investigate its history. To Mr. Drummond, and his son Mr. Johnson
Drummond, botanical science is indebted for many valuable discoveries,
and that this slight tribute to their labours in that department may
induce them to turn their attention to other branches of natural history
is my earnest wish.
The sexes of the present bird, as will be seen on reference to the
accompanying Plate, exhibit a similar difference in colour as in the _P.
rufogularis_; the females of both species being very sombre and devoid
of any rufous colouring on the throat and breast.
The male has the upper surface dark greyish olive-brown; head dark
slate-grey; breast of a lighter grey; lores black; throat rust-red;
under surface of the shoulder, centre of the abdomen and under
tail-coverts sandy buff; irides light brown; bill and feet black.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PACHYCEPHALA SIMPLEX: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PACHYCEPHALA SIMPLEX, _Gould_.
Plain-coloured Pachycephala.
_Pachycephala simplex_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 135.
The _Pachycephala simplex_ is a native of the north-western parts of
Australia, but does not appear to be very numerous in any locality yet
explored; Mr. Gilbert, who discovered it in the neighbourhood of Port
Essington, states that it is of a very shy and retiring disposition, and
that it is usually met with in pairs hopping and creeping about among
the underwood or very thickly-foliaged trees, but may be more frequently
seen in thickets situated in the midst of swamps or among the mangroves.
In its mode of feeding and in many of its actions it greatly resembles
the Flycatchers, but does not like them shake or move the tail. Its
voice, which is peculiarly soft and mournful, consists of a single note
four times repeated with rather lengthened intervals; this however
appears to be its call-note only, for at other times it utters a
somewhat pleasing and lengthened song; “but,” says Mr. Gilbert, “I never
heard it emit that sharp terminating note, resembling the smack of a
whip, which concludes the song of all the other species of the genus.”
The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects and seeds of
various kinds.
It appears to breed during the months of December, January and February,
for the ovarium of a female killed on the third of the last-mentioned
month contained eggs very fully developed, and from the bare state of
the breast appeared to have been already engaged in the task of
incubation.
All the upper surface brown; under surface brownish white, with a very
faint stripe of brown down the centre of each feather; irides light
brown; bill and feet black.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration: