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AILUR@DpDwUs BUCCOIDES.
Barbet-like Cat-bird.

Kitta buccoides, Temm. Pl. Col. 575.—Von Rosenb. J. f. O, 1864, p. 122.

Cissa buccoides, Gray, Gen. B. iii. App. p. 14.

Ptilonorhynchus buccoides, Gray, P.Z.S. 1858, p. 194.—Id. Cat. Mamm. & B. N. Guin. p. 37.—Schl. Mus. P. B
Coraces, p. 118.—Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 294.—Schl. N. T. D. iv. p. 49. |

Ailuredus buecoides, Elliot, Monogr. Parad. pl. 36.—Sclater, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 697.

”

Axruouex this bird, aptly named duccoides by Temminck on account of its resemblance to the Barbets of
the genus Megalema, has been known for so many years, and specimens not unfrequently turn up in
collections from New Guinea, there is nothing recorded of its habits or economy. It is confined to the
islands of New Guinea and Waigiou, the Leiden Museum possessing a considerable number of specimens
collected in these localities by the late Dr. Bernstein. The original specimen was procured at Triton Bay,
on the west coast of New Guinea; and other localities mentioned by Professor Schlegel are Sorong, the
north coast of Salwatti, and the island of Batanta.

In its general green coloration this bird resembles the other species of the genus; but it may be readily
distinguished by the more decided spotting of the breast and by the very distinct whitish streaks which are
seen on the nape of the neck; besides which it is by far the smallest species of the whole genus, a group
of birds intimately allied to the Bower-birds (Chlamydodera and Ptilonorhynchus) ; but up to the present
moment we have no information as to whether the members of the genus Ailuredus ever construct a bower.

Upper surface of body, the wings included, grass-green, the secondaries slightly tipped with yellow ; head
olive-brown washed with green; all the feathers of the neck pale yellow, with large terminal spots of
black, giving a streaked appearance to this part; a great many of the interscapulary plumes barred with
yellow, some spotted with black ; tail green; sides of face and throat buffy white, the former thickly spotted
with black ; rest of under surface ochraceous buff washed with green, with a black spot to each of the
feathers, disappearing on the under tail-coverts; the spots greenish on the lower Sere ele wing-
coverts salmon-buff, the outermost with brown-mottled bases; bill yellowish white; tarsi and feet lead-
colour. ‘Total length 10 inches; culmen 1:0. wing 4:9, tail 3°6, tarsus 1-4.

Apparently there is no difference in the sexes; and the figures in the accompanying Plate are as nearly

life-size as possible.

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