PACHYCEPHALA GUTTURALIS.

Guttural Pachycephala.

Turdus gutturalis, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xlii.

Black-crowned Thrush, Lewin, Birds of New Holl.. pl. 10.

Guttural Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 182.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 256.—Lath. Gen. Hist.,
Olav. ps UG

Pachycephala gutturalis, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 239.—G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds,
2nd edit. p. 40.

Turdus lunularis, Shaw.

Laniarius albicollis, Vieill.

Pachycephala fusca, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 240.—Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part III.

eT Suliginosa, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 241, female or young.

Pe-dil-me-dung, Aborigines of Western Australia.

Thunder Bird, Colonists of New South Wales.

 

Ir would seem that the whole extent of the southern coast of Australia is inhabited by the present species,
for on comparing adult males from New South Wales, South Australia and Swan River, I find that they
do not differ in any respect; the apical half of the tail is blackish brown in all, and the colouring of the
under surface of the richest yellow. It is rather abundantly dispersed over the forests of Kucalypti and
the belts of Acacie, among the flowering branches of which latter tribe of trees the male displays himself
to the greatest advantage, and shows off his rich yellow breast as if desirous of outvieing the beautiful
blossoms with which he is surrounded.

The stomach is very muscular, and its principal food consists of insects of various genera, which are
sought for and captured both among the flowers and leaves as well as on the ground.

It is generally met with in pairs, but the males are more shy than the females. It flies in short and
sudden starts, and seldom mounts far above the tops of the trees.

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.