Part 11

The voice of the male is a single note seven or eight times repeated, and terminating with a sharp higher note much resembling the smack of a whip; that of the female is very different, being a series of running half-notes, forming a rather plaintive tune.

Mr. Gilbert mentions that it is sparingly dispersed throughout the Swan River colony, but is more abundant in the best-watered districts, such as Perth and Fremantle.

I did not succeed in finding the nest of this species, but was informed that it breeds in September and October, and lays three or four eggs, ten and a half lines long by eight lines broad, with a ground-colour of brownish buff, sparingly streaked and spotted with reddish brown and bluish grey, the latter colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell.

The male has the crown of the head, lores, line beneath the eye, ear-coverts, and a crescent-shaped mark from the latter across the breast deep black; throat, within the black, white; back of the neck, a narrow line down each side of the chest behind the black crescent, and all the under surface gamboge-yellow; back and upper tail-coverts yellowish olive; wing-coverts blackish brown, margined with yellowish olive; primaries and secondaries blackish brown, margined with greyish olive; basal half of the tail grey, apical half blackish brown tipped with grey; irides dark brown; bill black; legs and feet blackish grey.

The female has the whole of the upper surface and tail greyish brown; primaries and secondaries brown, margined with grey; throat pale brown freckled with white; remainder of the under surface pale brown, passing into deep buff on the abdomen.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.

PACHYCEPHALA GLAUCURA, _Gould_. Grey-tailed Pachycephala.

_Pachycephala glaucura_, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc., March 25, 1845.

_Pe-dil̈-me-dung_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.

Although the present bird is very nearly allied to the _P. gutturalis_, it may be readily distinguished from that species by its larger size, by its shorter and more robust bill, by the uniform grey colouring of its tail, and by the lighter and more washy tint of the yellow of the under surface. Van Diemen’s Land and the islands in Bass’s Straits are the only countries in which it has yet been discovered, and where it takes the place of the _P. gutturalis_, which latter species appears to be exclusively confined to the Australian continent.

The _P. glaucura_ frequents the vast forests of _Eucalypti_ that cover the greater part of Van Diemen’s Land, and although it is rather thinly dispersed, is to be met with in every variety of situation, the crowns of the hills and the deep and most secluded gulleys being alike visited by it. It frequently descends to the ground in search of insects, but the leafy branches of the trees, particularly those of a low growth, are the situations to which it gives the preference.

The adult male, like most other birds of attractive plumage, is of a shy disposition; hence there is much more difficulty in obtaining a glimpse of it in the woods, than of the sombre-coloured and comparatively tame female, or even of the young males of the year, which during this period wear a similar kind of livery to that of the latter.

The actions of this species are somewhat peculiar, and unlike those of most other insectivorous birds: it pries about the leafy branches of the trees, and leaps from twig to twig in the most agile manner possible, making all the while a most scrutinizing search for insects, particularly coleoptera. When the male exposes himself, as he occasionally does, on some bare twig, the rich yellow of his plumage, offering a strong contrast to the green of the surrounding foliage, renders him a conspicuous and doubtless highly attractive object to his sombre-coloured mate, who generally accompanies him. Males in colour like those represented on the accompanying Plate seldom associate together, their recluse disposition leading them not only to avoid each other’s society, but also that of all other birds. It sometimes resorts to the gardens and shrubberies of the settlers, but much less frequently than might be supposed, when we consider that the neighbouring forests are its natural place of abode.

The voice of the Grey-tailed Pachycephala is a loud whistling call of a single note several times repeated, and by which the presence of the male is often detected when it would otherwise be passed by unnoticed. I was unsuccessful in my search for its nest, and the eggs are still a desideratum to my cabinet. I shot the young in various stages of plumage, and found them to differ so much that a more, than ordinarily minute description is necessary, in order that those who may not have an opportunity of seeing the bird in its native country may not be misled respecting it. Soon after leaving the nest the ground-colour of the entire plumage is grey, washed or stained as it were, both on the upper and under surface, with rusty or chestnut-red; this gradually gives place to a uniform olive-brown above and pale brown beneath, which being precisely the colouring of the adult females, the young birds in this stage and the old females are not to be distinguished from each other.

The adult male has the crown of the head, lores, space beneath the eye and a broad crescent-shaped mark from the latter across the breast deep black; throat, within the black, white; back of the neck, a narrow line down each side of the chest behind the black crescent and the under surface yellow; back and wing-coverts yellowish olive; wings dark slate-colour margined with grey; tail entirely grey; under tail-coverts white, or very slightly washed with yellow; irides reddish brown; bill black; feet dark brown.

The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size, on one of the common Acacias of Van Diemen’s Land.

PACHYCEPHALA MELANURA, _Gould_. Black-tailed Pachycephala.

_Pachycephala melanura_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 134.

The _Pachycephala melanura_ is a native of the northern coasts of Australia, where it was procured by B. Bynoe, Esq., during the surveying voyage of H.M.S. the Beagle. It may be readily distinguished from the _P. gutturalis_ and _P. glaucura_ by the jet-black colouring of the tail, which organ is also shorter and more square than that of any other species, by its much longer bill, and by the colouring of the back of the neck and the under surface being richer than that of either of those above-named. I have not yet seen a female of this fine species, wanting which I have figured two males in different positions.

It may be thus described:—

Head, crescent commencing behind the eye and crossing the chest and the tail black; throat pure white; collar round the back and sides of the neck, and all the under surface very rich gamboge-yellow; upper surface rich yellowish olive; wings black, the coverts margined with yellowish olive; the primaries narrowly and the secondaries broadly margined with yellowish grey; bill and feet black; irides brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PACHYCEPHALA OLIVACEA, _Vig. and Horsf._ Olivaceous Pachycephala.

_Pachycephala olivacea_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 241.—Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part III.