PACBYCAKE, F IA V O -G K IS E A .
PACHYCARE FLAYO-GRISEA.
Yellow-and-grey Thickhead.
Pachycephala Jlavo-grisea, Meyer, Sitz. Akad. Wien, lxix. p . 495 (18 7 4 ).—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vii.
p. 775 (1875).
In describing this bird as a Pachycephala Dr. Meyer seems to have had an idea that the species was by no
means a typical one; and I need hardly do more than draw the attention o f my readers to the bird figured
in the opposite Plate to illustrate the very aberrant style o f plumage exhibited by it as compared with the
usual black and yellow or green dress of an ordinary Pachycephala. In point o f fact, not only the plumage,
but the form o f the bird differs so strikingly that I feel compelled to institute a new generic title for its
reception.
In the olden days, when the quinary system had sway, we should doubtless have been told that the
present species represented the S ittidse, or Nuthatches, among the Shrikes, if, indeed, the Pachycephaline
birds are to be accounted as belonging to the great group o f the Laniidse. Their position is not well
ascertained; and by some ornithologists they are considered to belong to the Ampelidae, while Mr. D. G.
Elliot raised them at one time to the rank o f a family (Pachycephalidse). Although the quinary theory is
exploded, and its most potent advocates have passed away, one cannot be surprised at the hold that it once
possessed on the minds o f many earnest zoologists, as it brought forward characters and affinities which
would perhaps have been otherwise neglected; only its advocates were inclined to push their ideas to
too great an extreme. The resemblance in the present instance, however, is very striking, not only in the
grey Nuthatch-like colour o f the back, but even in the two long black stripes (so characteristic o f the Sittas)
which run down each side o f the neck.
Dr. Meyer obtained his type specimen in the Arfak Mountains, in March 1873; and more recently Count
Salvadori has received two specimens from the same locality, sent by Dr. Bruijn. I am pleased to see that
this excellent ornithologist is inclined to consider its generic separation expedient.
I am once more indebted to Dr. Meyer’s kindness for the opportunity o f figuring this interesting addition
to the Papuan avifauna; and the following description is drawn up from the typical specimen.
Face, ear-coverts, throat, and undersurface bright yellow; crown o f the head and all the upper surface
g rey ; a black mark intervening between the yellow face, ear-coverts, and the grey of the upper surface of
the body. The three secondary wing-feathers next the body black, with a distinct square spot of white at
their tip s; underparts o f the wing white; tail grey above, terminating in dusky black.
This is by no means a typical Pachycephala, and must receive an appellation as a new genus ( P achycare) ,
in which the following characters must be noted:—Plumage lax. Bill stout, with a distinct notch and
overhanging tip on the upper mandible; vibrissse absent. Wing rounded and feeble; first primary short,
the fourth the longest. Tail short and rounded. Tarsi moderately long, exceeding the length o f the bill,
rather slight, as are the toes.
Total length 5 inches, bill £, wing 3 i, tail 2 i, tarsi I.
The figures in the Plate are o f the natural size.