ARTAMUS ALBIVENTRIS, Gould.

White-vented Wood-Swallow.

Artamus albiventris, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., March 23, 1847.

 

Two examples of this species are all that have come under my notice; one of these was killed on the
Darling Downs in New South Wales, and the other some distance to the northward of that locality, it
being one of the birds procured during Dr. Leichardt’s expedition to Port Essington. Its nearest ally

is the Artamus cinereus, a species inhabiting the opposite side of the continent ; but it is somewhat smaller,

and may moreover be distinguished from that bird by the white under tail-coverts, and the lighter colour of

the lower part of the abdomen. I regret that I have no information to communicate respecting its habits
and economy ; they are doubtless very similar to those of its representative above alluded to.

Lores, space beneath the eye and the chin deep black ; head, neck and upper part of the back brownish
grey; lower part of the back and the wings dark grey, becoming gradually deeper towards the tips of the
feathers ; primaries and secondaries narrowly edged with white at the tip ; under surface of the wing white ;
ear-coverts, chest and abdomen pale grey, passing into white on the under tail-coverts ; upper tail-coverts
and tail black ; the apical third of all but the two middle ones white; irides dark brown; bill yellowish
horn-colour, becoming black at the tip; feet blackish brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

PANT TT HHH Nyt
cag! ‘ss