1RECTJES mOFMHALIS, Gray.
J.GotHtb&WBart^ S elf cb litii/. Waiter, imf>
RECTES UROPYGIALIS, Gray.
Rufous-and-Black Wood-Shrike.
Rectes uropygialis, G. R. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, pp. 430, 435.—Finsch, New Guinea, p. 170 (1865).—
Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, lxix. p. 208 (1 8 7 4 ).—Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. iii.
p. 285 (1 877).—Rosenb. Malay Arch. p. 395 (1 8 7 9 ).
Colluricincla uropygialis, Gray, Handl. B. i. p. 385, no. 5, 836 (1869).
Rectes uropygialis ceramensis, Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, lxix. p. 208 (1 8 7 4 ).— Salvad. Proc. Zool.
Soc. 1878, p. 96 (note).
Rectes tibialis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. iii. p. 285 (18 7 7 ).
Rhectes uropygialis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, xv. p. 42 (1 8 7 9 ).—Id. Om. della Papuasia, &c. p. 193
(1881).
T h e r e are three species o f 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, R . dichrous, spread over the greater part o f New Guinea, and R . aruensis 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 o f the rump and upper tail-coverts black, whereas in the last-named
bird these parts are chestnut like the rest o f the back. R . 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 o f this species, or o f those o f any member o f the
genus R e c te s; but we can easily suppose that they are not greatly different from those o f the Australian
Colluriocincla. Whereas R . dichrous appears to be spread over the greater part o f the island of New
Guinea, R . uropygialis takes its place in the western and north-western part o f the island, and extends into
Mysol, Mr. Sharpe was inclined at one time to separate the New-Guinea bird as Rectes tibialis; but he
informs me that he is now quite convinced o f its identity with the Mysol bird.
The following description is taken from Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue o f Birds in tbe British Museum :—
Adult male. Head, which is strongly crested, and nape black, as also the entire sides o f the face, sides
o f neck, throat, fore neck, and chest; hind neck, mantle, and upper back rich maroon-chestnut, rather
;more orange on the hind neck; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts black; wings and tail black;
remainder o f under surface o f 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 4-55, tarsus 1*36.
Adult female. Similar to the adult male, and quite as richly coloured. Total length 11 inches, culmen
1’25, wing 4'95, tail 4*75, tarsus T35.
The figures in the Plate represent an adult bird in two positions, o f about the natural size, and are
drawn from an example in my own collection.