GRAUCALUS PUSILLUS, Ramsay.
Ramsay’s Cuckoo-Shrike.

Graucalus, sp. nov., Ramsay, Nature, 1879, p. 125.

Graucalus pusillus, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iv. p. 71 (1879).—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov.
xv. p. 35 (1879).—Id. Ibis, 1880, p. 128.—Id. Orn. Papuasia, etc. ii. p. 140 (1881).

Graucalus dussumieri (?), Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W. iv. p. 71 (1879).

Graucalus salamonis, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. iv. p. 314 (1879).

 

Turs species is a small island race of Graucalus axillaris, the males of the two species being almost identical
in colour. In the present bird, which comes from the Solomon Islands, the colour is a clearer slaty blue in
both sexes and the under wing-coverts and axillaries are barred with black and white, and the bars are
narrower.

In the females of G. pusilus the thighs are uniform blue-grey, whereas in G. avillaris they are barred with
black and white like the rest of the under surface.

As far as is known at present, this Cuckoo-Shrike is found only in Guadalcanar, where it was discovered
by Mr. Cockerell.

The following descriptions have been drawn up from the typical specimens :—

Adult male. General colour above clear blue-grey ; wing-coverts like the back ; large outer feather of
bastard wing black ; primary-coverts and quills black, externally blue-grey, more hoary on the outer webs of
the primaries ; tail-feathers black, the centre feathers ashy for two thirds of their length on the inner web,
not quite so extended on the outer web, the outermost feather dull ashy at the tip; head clear blue-grey like
the back ; a narrow frontal line and lores black, occupying a distinct space in front of the eye and extending
below the latter, as well as the upper and under edge of the eyelid; sides of face, ear-coverts, cheeks, and
entire under surface of body clear blue-grey, with a tiny spot of black at the base of the chin and base of
cheeks ; under tail-coverts darker grey, with blackish shaft-stripes; axillaries barred, ashy grey on the inner
web and on the base of the outer, the latter otherwise barred with black and ashy whitish ; under Wwing-coverts
slaty blue, with less distinct bars of black and ashy whitish ; quills ashy blackish below, greyer on the inner
web especially near the base, the inner web edged with white. ‘Total length 9 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 4°95,
tail 4:2, tarsus 0:8.

Adult female. Differs from the male in having the base of the forehead greyish black instead of deep black,
the loral patch being also ashy blackish ; the throat and chest are uniform blue-grey, but the rest of the under
surface is barred with black and ashy white on a blue-grey ground; on each side of the lower back a
conspicuous patch of silky white ; thighs uniform blue-grey. Total length 8°5 inches, culmen 0:65, wing 4-95,
tail 3:1, tarsus 0°8.

The Plate represents the male and female birds of the natural size, the figures being drawn from the type
specimens which Mr, Ramsay has kindly lent to us.

[R. B. S.]