PACHYCEPHALA COLLARIS, Ramsay.

Ramsay’s Thickhead.

Pachycephala collaris, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, iii. p. 74 (1878), p- 281 (1879), iv. p. 99 (1879).—
Salvad. Ibis, 1879, p. 324.—Id. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. xv. p. 45 (1879).—Id. Orn. Papuasia e delle
Molucche, ii. p. 221 (1881).—Gadow, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. viii. p. 197 (1883).

 

Tue present species is closely allied to P. melanura, but differs in its olive-coloured tail, a distinction
accurately noted by Count Salvadori, although he had never seen a specimen. Taking advantage of
Mr. E. P. Ramsay’s visit to England during the year 1883, we borrowed the typical specimens of this bird
for illustration in the present work, and have much satisfaction in figuring in the accompanying Plate the
actual pair described by Mr. Ramsay, these being, so far, the only ones known in any collection.

The habitat of the species is Courtance Island, off the south-east coast of New Guinea.

The following is a description of the type specimens :—

Adult male. General colour above olive-green, the feathers on the sides of the rump with yellow ends ;
lesser wing-coverts like the back; median and greater coverts slightly brighter yellow, with dusky bases ;
bastard-wing and primary-coverts dusky, edged with dull olive-green ; quills dusky, edged with yellowish
olive, the primaries with ashy grey ; tail olive-green, rather yellower on the edges of the feathers; crown of
head and nape black, separated from the back by a broad collar of bright yellow; lores, feathers below
the eye, and ear-coverts black; cheeks and throat white, separated from the breast by a narrow black
collar, which extends up to the sides of the ear-coverts ; remainder of under surface of body bright yellow,
a little paler towards the vent and under tail-coverts; axillaries and under wing-coverts yellow, white at the
bases ; quills dusky below, white along the inner edge. Total length 5:7 inches, culmen 0°8, wing 3°69,
tail 2-7, tarsus 0:95.

Adult female. Different from the male. General colour olive-brown, a little clearer on the rump
and on the hind neck, where there is an indistinct collar; wing-coverts like the back, the greater series
with dusky bases ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills dusky, edged with olive-brown, paler on the
primaries ; tail dull olive-yellowish, the feathers edged with clearer yellow; crown of head dull chocolate-
brown, contrasting slightly with the back; sides of face and ear-coverts clearer reddish brown, with the
lores and eyelids whitish ; cheeks and throat white, the lower throat slightly shaded with brownish ;
remainder of under surface of body bright yellow; axillaries and under wing-coverts white, edged with
yellow. Total length 6-2 inches, culmen 0°85, wing 3°65, tail 2°4, tarsus 0°85.

The Plate represents an adult male and female, of the natural size, drawn from the type specimens lent
to us by Mr. Ramsay.

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