INSESSORES. 467 



Genus SPHECOTHERES, Vieillot. 



Australia presents us with two well-defined species of this 

 genus ; others inhabit New Guinea and the neighbouring 

 islands ; but as yet we have no evidence of the form occurring 

 on the continent of India. 



These birds appear to offer an alliance to the members of 

 the genera Oriolus and Mimeta. 



Sp. 286. SPHECOTHERES MAXILLARIS. 

 Southern Sphecotheres. 



Turdus maxillaris, Lath. Ind. Orn., Suppl. p. xliii. 



Sphecotheres viridis, Vig, and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 215. 



virescens, Jard. and Selb. 111. Orn., vol. ii. pi. 79. 



australis, Swains. 



canicoUis, Swains. Anim. in Menag., p. 320. 



grisea, Less. Traite d'Orn., p. 351. 



maxillaris, Gray Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 231, Sphecotheres, sp. 1. 



Sphecotheres australis, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv. 

 pi. 15. 



I killed a fine specimen of this bird on Mosquito Island, at 

 the mouth of the river Hunter, in September 1839 ; it was 

 perched on a dead branch which towered above the green 

 foliage of one of the high trees of the forest, and my attention 

 was drawn to it by its loud and singular note : this was the 

 only example that came under my observation : but it is 

 more plentiful in the neighbourhood of the river Clarence, is 

 abundant at Moreton Bay, and that it enjoys a wide range is 

 proved by Mr. Bynoe having procured an adult male on the 

 north coast. It appears to be peculiar to the brushes, and its 

 food doubtless consists of the berries and fruits which abound 

 in those districts. Nothing is known of its nidification. 

 The sexes differ very widely from each other in colour. 

 The male has the crown of the head and the cheeks glossy 



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