GERYGONE DORSALIS, Seats.

Rufous-backed Gerygone.

Gerygone dorsalis, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1883, p. 199.

 

Tuis is one of the most distinct species of the genus Gerygone. The rufous colour of the back, so markedly
in contrast with the grey head, is a character approached by none of the other species of the genus.
Mr. Forbes, who discovered this new bird, sent a large series from Moloe Island in the Tenimber grou p:—

The following is a description of the typical specimen kindly lent to me by Dr. Sclater :—

Adult male. General colour rufous or bay; the lesser and median wing-coverts like the back ; greater
series, bastard wing, and primary-coverts, as well as the quills, dusky brown, edged with rufous like the back ;
tail-feathers light brown, margined with rufous, all but the centre feathers with a blackish shade before the
tips, which are pale brown ; near the end of the inner webs a white spot, which increases in extent towards
the outermost feather ; head dull ashy brown, contrasting with the back; a spot of dusky white on the lores ;
ear-coverts light ashy brown as well as the sides of the neck ; feathers below the eye, cheeks, and under
surface of body white; the sides of the breast and flanks light rufous or bay; thighs also light rufous ; under
tail-coverts buffy whitish ; under wing-coverts and axillaries yellowish white ; quills dusky below, yellowish
white along the inner web ; “ bill, legs, and feet black ; iris black” (ZZ. O. Forbes). Total length 4 inches,
culmen 0°55, wing 2:1, tail 1:5, tarsus 0°8.

Adult female. Resembling the male in colour, but with the head a trifle duller. Wing 2°15 inches,
tarsus 0°85.

The Plate represents a male and female of this species, of the natural size.

[R. B. $.]

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