PACHYCEPHALA FUSCOEFLAVA, Setater

‘Tenimber Thickhead.

Pachycephala, sp. incog., Sel. Proc. Zool. Soe. 1883, p. 51.
Pachycephala fuscoflava, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1883, p- 198, pl. xxvili.Forbes, tom. cit. p. 589, pl. liii.

 

Tus fine Thickhead is one of the largest of the genus Pachycephala, and was discovered by Mr. H. O. Forbes
in the island of Larat in the Tenimber group. In the first collection sent by him to this country were two
specimens marked as male and female, from which it was at first surmised that the species belonged to the
dull-coloured section of the genus Pachycephala, and it was ouly on the arrival of Mr. Forbes in England
that the fully adult male was described, the specimen having been accidentally mislaid by him in packing
up his collections.

The male may be described as being very similar in colour to P. torquata from the island of Taviuni, but
much larger and lighter olive-yellow above, and much paler lemon-yellow below.

The young male being so distinct, we give the following full description of it :—

General colour above olive-greenish, rather more olive-yellow on the rump; head a trifle yellower than the
back, from which it is separated by a faintly indicated ring of deep olive- yellow, not pronounced enough to
form a distinct collar; lesser and median wing-coverts clearer olive-yellow than the back; bastard-wing,
primary-coverts, and primaries blackish brown, externally ashy grey, the secondaries and greater wing-coverts
dusky brown, externally olive-yellow ; tail-feathers olive-greenish ; lores ashy whitish, with a dusky spot before
the eye; eyelid rather more yellowish olive; ear-coverts reddish brown, with narrow whitish shaft-lines ;
cheeks and chin ashy whitish marked with yellow, with a brighter yellow moustachial streak; throat and
breast saffron-yellow, washed with brighter yellow in the centre of the breast; the sides of the breast and
sides of neck browner; abdomen ashy whitish marked with yellow, the flanks olive-brown ; thighs and
under tail-coverts bright yellow; axillaries and under wing-coverts pale brownish white, the latter washed
with yellow; quills dusky below, ashy along the inner web: “ bill black ; legs and feet sooty blue; iris dark
brown” (ZZ. O. Forbes). Total length 7:3 inches, culmen 0°85, wing 4°16, tail 3-1, tarsus 1°15.

Adult female. Similar to the young male, but a little duller-coloured below, with less yellow on the breast :
‘bill, legs, and feet black ; iris dark brown” (ZZ. O. Forbes). Total length 7-2 inches, culmen 0°85, wing
0:9, tail 3-0, tarsus 1:05.

The figures in the Plate represent the adult male and female of the full size ; they are drawn from the
typical specimens in the British Museum.

[R. B. $.]

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