PODARGUS OCELLATUS, Quy & Gaim

Ocellated Goatsucker.

Podargus ocellatus, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. Astrol. i. p. 208, pl. 14 (1830)
(1838).—Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 45 (1846).—Bp. Consp. Av. i. p-
Hianti e Nott. ovvero Insidenti, p- 8 (1857).—Sel.
Zools 0c, 1858, pp. 170, 189.—Id. Cat. B. New Guin. pp. 17, 54 (1859).—Id. Proc. Zool Soc. 1861
P- 433.—Rosenb. J. f. O. 1864, p- 117.—Finsch, Neu-Guinea, p. 162 (1865).—Schl. Nederl “Tijdschr,
Dierk. iii. pp. 340, 341 (1866).— Rosenb. Reis naar Zuidoostereil, p. 36 (1867).—Gray, Hani of
Birds, i. p. 54, no. 588 (1869).—Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. der Wissensch. Wien, lxix, p. 209 (1874).—
Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. ix. p. 23 (1876), x. p. 309 (1877).—D’ Alb. et Salvad. op. cit. xiv. p. 54
1€, 1. p. 518 (1880)

-—Less. Compl. de Buffon, Ois. p. 435
58 (1850).—Id. Parall. Cant, Fissir. Vol.
Journ. Linn. Soe. ii. p. 155 (1858).—Gray, Proc.

(1879).—Salvad. Uccelli di Papuasia e delle Moluccl :
Podargus earotiar is, Bay Proc. Zao: aoe. 1861, pp. 428, 433, pl. 42.—Finsch, Neu-Guinea, p. 162 (1865).—
Schl. oo lijdschr. Dierk. ul. p. 341 (1866).—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p- 51, no. 590 (1869).—
Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, Ixix. p. 209 (1874).

Podargus marmoratus, Gould, B. Austr. Suppl. pl. 4.—Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 154.—Id. op. cit. 1861,
p. 162 (1865).—Schl. Nederl. Tiydschr. Dierk. iii. p- 341 (1866).—Gray,
Hand-list of Birds, i. p- 54, no. 589 (1869).—Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, Ixix. p. 209
(1874).—Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iii. p. 264 (1878), iv. p. 97 (1879).—Salvad. Ibis, 1879,
p. 322.

p. 433.—Finsch, Neu-Guinea,

 

Ir is so difficult to describe in words the exact differences between the plumage of the various species
of Goatsuckers, that we do not attempt to give a detailed description of the present species. Its nearest
ally is probably Podargus papuensis, from which it is easily recognized by its diminutive size, as it is not
half the bulk of the former bird.

It has been found in all the parts of New Guinea yet visited by naturalists, and it has also occurred
in the islands of the Bay of Geelvink, having been procured in Jobi by Dr. Meyer, and by Dr. Beccari in
Miosnom. Mr. Wallace met with the species in Waigiou and also in the Aru Islands, where Baron von
Rosenberg and Dr. Beccari likewise obtained specimeus. During his explorations in South-eastern New
Guinea, Signor D’Albertis found the species near Naiabui and also on the Fly River. Mr. H. O. Forbes has
recently obtained several specimens in the Sogeri district of the Astrolabe Range of mountains in the
interior of South-eastern New Guinea.

A full account of the variation in plumage in the present species will be found in Count Salvadori’s
‘Uccelli di Papuasia;’ and from the series sent by Mr. Forbes it is evident that there are two distinct
phases of plumage, one thickly mottled with white, and the other more uniform rufous-brown. Apparently
the latter are the female birds; and this assumption is confirmed by the specimens in the British Museum,
where several individuals are emerging from the uniform rufous stage into that of the white-spotted dress
of the adult male. On comparing examples from Northern Australia with others from New Guinea, we
fail to find any differences to warrant their specific separation, and we have therefore unhesitatingly added
Podargus marmoratus of Gould as a synonym of P. ocedlatus. .

Baron von Rosenberg states that the ‘ Gongaboel,” as it is called by the natives, 1s the oe rare os the
Goatsuckers found erie Aru Islands, where they were seen in some numbers at a little distance from
Dobbo, in a small wood composed of low shrubs, above which ee some giant Cosine ws, a where
some open bare spaces alternated with marshy spots Soon with oe grass. oe es oe
author, the “ Gongaboel” is a strictly nocturnal bird, ee oa during the pee ‘ if oo Be
or perched upon some large branch of the Casuarina, in which ee be a a engthwise <
not across the bough. They feed on Phalene, Phasme, Ps piel they ee _ i Me ae

Our illustration represents the adult male of this species of the natural size, and the figure is dre

c Seen » Astrolabe untains.
a specimen procured by Mr. H. O. Forbes in the Astrolabe Mo a ee
i perching attitude in which our artist, Mr. Hart, has

followed the traditions of the ‘ Birds of Australia,’

If Baron von Rosenberg’s note as

to the way in which the bird sits is correct, then the
represented the species must be wrong ; but he has only

: + have seen many Lodargi at rest on a tree.
and we suppose that the late Mr. Gould must have seen many a [tee penal