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RECTES U ROPY GIALIS, &
Rufous-and-Black Wood-Shrike.

ray.

Rectes uropygialis, G. R. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1861, pp. 430, 435.—Finsch, New Gui 7
Meyer, Sitz, k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, Isix. p. 208 Gee ee
p. 285 (1877).—Rosenb. Malay Arch. p, 395 (1879). | eer
Colluricincla uropygialis, Gray, Handl. B. i. p. 385, no. 5, 836 (1869).
tes uropygialis ceramensis, Mever. Sit7. kk Ak We : ;
Rec a ; ears. ee ae er, Sitz. k, Akad. Wissensch. Wien, lxix. P. 208 (1874).—Salvad. Proc. Zool.
Rectes tibialis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. ill. p. 285 (1877).
Rhectes uropyyialis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ.

aie.) Genova, xv. p. 42 (1879).—Id. Orn. dell

a Papuasia, &c. p. 193

 

Tuere are three species of the genus Rectes which are very closely allied to each other, and which are
remarkable for their red and black plumage. These are R. uropygialis, from North-western New Guinea
and Mysol, 2. dichrous, spread over the greater part of New Guinea, and R. arvensis from the Aru Islands.
Of these three species the present is perhaps the finest, being slightly the largest in size. It differs
from R. dichrous in having the whole of the rump and upper tail-coverts black, whereas in the last-named
bird these parts are chestnut like the rest of the back. 2. aruensis resembles the present bird in having
the rump and upper tail-coverts black; but, besides being rather smaller, it has the breast slightly paler
and washed with black.

Nothing has been recorded concerning the habits of this species, or of those of any member of the
genus Itectes; but we can easily suppose that they are not greatly different from those of the Australian
Colluriocincla. Whereas R. dichrous appears to be spread over the greater part of the island of New
Guinea, A. uropygialis takes its place in the western and north-western part of the island, and extends into
Mysol. Mr. Sharpe was inclined at one time to separate the New-Guinea bird as Pectes tibialis; but he
informs me that he is now quite convinced of its identity with the Mysol bird.

The following description is taken from Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum a

Adult male. Head, which is strongly crested, and nape black, as also the entire sides of the face, sides
of neck, throat, fore neck, and chest; hind neck, mantle, and upper back rich miaroon-eHeSit rather
more orange on the hind neck; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts black ; wings and a cee
remainder of under surface of body, from the chest downwards, including the thighs, under wing- and
tail-coverts, rich maroon-chestnut ; bill and legs black.

Total length 11 inches, culmen 1-1, wing 4-7, tail 4°50, ee 136.

Adult female. Similar to the adult male, and quite as richly coloured.
1-25, wing 4:95, tail 4°75, tarsus 1°30. . ] 4

The figures in the Plate represent an adult bird in two positions, of a

drawn from an example in my own collection. |
I

Total length 11 inches, culmen

bout the natural size, and are