PACHYCEPHALOPSIS POLIOSOMA, Sharpe.

Grey Thickhead.

Pachycephalopsis poliosoma, Sharpe, Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. vol. xvi. p. 318 (1882).

 

Tuis fine Thickhead was discovered by Mr. A. Goldie in the Taburi district, at the back of the Astrolabe
range, in South-eastern New Guinea. Although much resembling the genus Pachycephala in the shape of
the bill, the present species nevertheless differs in its longer wings and longer tarsi; and I agree with Count
Salvadori that, like P. hattamensis, it ought to be generically separated. With the last-named bird it agrees
entirely in form; but the simple coloration gives it a very different appearance.

Nothing was recorded by Mr. Goldie concerning the habits of this species ; but he states that the native
name is “* Uradaroro.”

The following is a translation of the original description published by Mr. Sharpe :—

Above uniform dull ashy grey, the head slightly duller ; wing-coyerts like the back, quills and _tail-
feathers rather browner ; lores and eyebrows, as well as the ear-coverts, ashy, the feathers before the eye
and a streak below the latter black ; under surface of body ashy grey, with the lower abdomen and the
under tail-coverts slightly whitish; throat whitish brown, the sides washed with ashy; cheeks whitish,
lighter than the throat and forming an indistinct moustache; under wing-coverts and axillaries ashy, quills
sepia-brown below, edged with pale brown along the inner web. Total length 6:3 inches, culmen 0:8, wing
4:2, tail 2°5, tarsus 1-2.

The figure in the Plate represents this species of the natural size: it has been taken from the typical
specimen in the British Museum.

[R. B. 8.]

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