PACHYCEPHALA HYPERYTHRA, sawad
Ruddy-breasted Thickhead.

Pachycephala hyperythra, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vii. sp. 932 (1875) ; x. p. 142 (1877) ; xv. p. 47(1879).—
Id. Orn. Papuasia &c. ii. p. 232 (1881).

 

Tux specimens which we identify with the species described by Count Salvadori as Pachycephala hyperythra
came trom the Astrolabe Mountains in South-eastern New Guinea ; they agree fairly well with the description
given by Count Salvadori; but the colour of the underparts can scarcely be said to be bright rufous, as
they are stated to be in P. hyperythra.

The habitat of the latter species is also given by Count Salvadori (in his work on the Birds of New Guinea)
as the Arfak Mountains in the north-western portion of the island; and it may ultimately turn out that
the specimens from South-eastern New Guinea belong to a different species from P. hyperythra. But
recent experience has so clearly demonstrated the fact that the species inhabiting the Arfak Mountains do
in a great many instances range throughout New Guinea into the Astrolabe Mountains, that we do not wish
to divide these two birds specifically without an actual comparison of individuals from the two localities, a
comparison which as yet we have had no opportunity of making.

The following is a description of one of Mr. Goldie’s specimens from South-eastern New Guinea :—

‘General colour above rufescent olive-brown or clear earthy brown ; wing-coverts like the back, the greater
series, bastard wing, primary-coverts, and quills dusky brown, externally like the back, but slightly more
tinged with olive ; the secondaries externally of the same colour as the back ; tail-feathers dull rufous brown ;
crown of head and nape dark slaty grey, as also the lores; feathers in front of and below the eye blackish ;
ear-coverts dusky brown; cheeks and throat white ; remainder of under surface fawn-brown, a little clearer
on the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts brown, washed with olive near the edge of the
wing ; the axillaries pale isabelline brown ; quills dusky below, isabelline along the edge of the inner web ;
‘bill black ; feet pale; iris chestnut.’ Total length 5:7 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 3°65, tail 2°6, tarsus 0°85.”

The Plate represents an adult male drawn in two positions, and is drawn from a specimen lent to us by

Mr. Edward Gerrard, jun.
[R. B. S.J

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