RECTES JOBIENS]
Jobi-Island Wood-Shr

5
S, Meyer.

ike.

Rectes jobiensis, Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. der Wiss. zu Wien, xix. P. 205 (1874).—Sclater
Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vii. Pp. 173 (1875), viii, p. 40 (1876) Sher
il. p. 287 (1877).—Gieb. Thes. Orn. iij. p. 412 (1877), os
Rhectes jobiensis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Ciy. Genova, xv. p. 43 no. 12 (1879),
(1881).

Ibis 1874, Decale
pe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.

—Id. Orn. Papuasia, &e, ii. p. 201

Tue Shrike-like genus Zectes consists of a small number of birds found in New
neighbouring islands. It is divided into two sections, consisting of those
cap of darker colour on the head, and those species which

Guinea and in the
species which have a distinct
have no cap whatever ; and the present bird will
Its nearest allies therefore are Rectes cervineiventris
from Waigiou, and 2. cristatus of New Guinea; but it is very distinct from both of these by
foxy red colour both above and below.

The present bird was discovered by Dr. A. B. Meyer in the island of Jobi, which is situated in the Bay of
Geelvink, in North-western New Guinea. He preserved several specimens of it; and it has also been ret
with there by Dr. Beccari and in the neighbouring little islet of Krudu.

be seen at once to belong to the second section.

reason of its

Dr. Meyer says that the note of this bird is a “ chrrr ;” and its habits are doubtless the same as those
of the rest of the genus, of which at present we unfortunately know but little.

The following description of the species I take from Mr. Bowdler Sharpe’s Catalogue of Birds :—

Adult male. General colour above bright foxy red, paler on the head; wing-coverts like the back ; quills
dark brown, externally rufous, the inner secondaries entirely rufous; tail-feathers chestnut, the shafts
rufous; lores, sides of face, and under surface of body deep rich tawny buff, darker on the throat and fore
neck, and inclining to chestnut on the lower flanks and under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts bright
tawny, like the breast; quills dusky brown below, rufous on the outer web and along the inner web; bill
light yellowish horn-colour ; feet blackish, claws pale. Total length 9-2 inches, culmen 11°5, wing 4°65,
tail 4°35, tarsus 1°35.

Adult female. Similar in colouring to the male.

Total length 10°5 inches, wing 4°6, tail 4°3, tarsus 1°25.

Young male. Similar in colour to the adult, but rather duller; the bill shorter and duller brown.

The above descriptions were taken from the typical specimens lent to Mr. Sharpe by Dr. Meyer; and
from one of these I have drawn the accompanying figure, which is of about the natural size.

 

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