EUPETES CA RULESCENS, Temm.

Blue-bodied Eupetes.

Eupetes cerulescens, Temm. Pl. Col. ii. pl. 574 (1835).—Mull. Naturl. Geschied. Land- u. Volkenk. p. 22
(1839-44).—Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 208 (1846).—Bp. Consp. i. p. 252 (1850).—Sclater, Proc. Linn. Soc.
1858, p. 158.—Gray, Cat. Mamm. & B. New Guin. p. 25 (1859).—Finsch, Neu-Guin. p. 167 (1865).—
Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 267 (1869).—Sclater, P. Z.S. 1873, p. 696.

 

Tue genus Hupetes is no doubt one of the great group of strong-legged Thrushes, or Zimalide, so plenti-
fully distributed throughout the tropical portions of the Old World; but, like many of the genera contained
in the family, its systematic position is extremely difficult to define. Indications, however, of a more
intimate acquaintance with these birds are not wanting ; for whereas the present species has remained for
thirty-five years represented by a single unique specimen in the Leiden Museum, it has been rediscovered
by Signor D’Albertis, while the same traveller and his companions, Drs. Bruijn and Beccari, have
succeeded in discovering no less than three new species in the northern part of New Guinea. The only
remaining member of the genus is the Hxpetes ajax, of Malacca, a bird plentiful enough in collections.

It cannot be expected that so rare a species should have much of a history attached to it; and, indeed,
up to the present time no notes whatever have been published respecting it. D’Albertis met with it in
Andai, in North-western New Guinea; and it was originally discovered by the well-known travellers
Macklot and Von Mueller in Lobo Bay.

My figure is taken from a specimen kindly lent me by Signor D’Albertis, through Dr. Bennett, of Sydney,
to whom I make my best acknowledgments for the loan. It represents an adult bird of the size of life.

As far as I yet know, there is no different colouring in the sexes. The bird which is figured in the Plate
is nearly uniform delicate bluish grey; throat white, surrounded by a collar of black, including the
ear-coverts and lores ; the under part of the tail sooty grey ; bill and legs black.

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