PACHYCEPHALA GUTTURALIS.
Guttural Pachycephala.
_Turdus gutturalis_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xlii.
_Black-crowned Thrush_, Lewin, Birds of New Holl., pl. 10.
_Guttural Thrush_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 182.—Shaw, Gen.
Zool., vol. x. p. 256.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 136.
_Pachycephala gutturalis_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv.
p. 239.—G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd edit., p. 45.
_Turdus lunularis_, Shaw.
_Laniarius albicollis_, Vieill.
_Pachycephala fusca_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
240.—Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part III.
—— _fuliginosa_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 241,
female or young.
_Pe-dil̈-me-dung_, Aborigines of Western Australia.
_Thunder Bird_, Colonists of New South Wales.
It would seem that the whole extent of the southern coast of Australia
is inhabited by the present species, for on comparing adult males from
New South Wales, South Australia and Swan River, I find that they do not
differ in any respect; the apical half of the tail is blackish brown in
all, and the colouring of the under surface of the richest yellow. It is
rather abundantly dispersed over the forests of _Eucalypti_ and the
belts of _Acaciæ_, among the flowering branches of which latter tribe of
trees the male displays himself to the greatest advantage, and shows off
his rich yellow breast as if desirous of outvieing the beautiful
blossoms with which he is surrounded.
The stomach is very muscular, and its principal food consists of insects
of various genera, which are sought for and captured both among the
flowers and leaves as well as on the ground.
It is generally met with in pairs, but the males are more shy than the
females. It flies in short and sudden starts, and seldom mounts far
above the tops of the trees.
The voice of the male is a single note seven or eight times repeated,
and terminating with a sharp higher note much resembling the smack of a
whip; that of the female is very different, being a series of running
half-notes, forming a rather plaintive tune.
Mr. Gilbert mentions that it is sparingly dispersed throughout the Swan
River colony, but is more abundant in the best-watered districts, such
as Perth and Fremantle.
I did not succeed in finding the nest of this species, but was informed
that it breeds in September and October, and lays three or four eggs,
ten and a half lines long by eight lines broad, with a ground-colour of
brownish buff, sparingly streaked and spotted with reddish brown and
bluish grey, the latter colour appearing as if beneath the surface of
the shell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account