INSESSORES. 481 



Sp. 293. POMATOSTOMUS RUBECULUS, Gould. 



Red-breasted Pomatorhinus. 



Pomatorhinus rubeculus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part vii. p. 144. 

 Pomatostomus rubeculus, Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil i. p. 83, note. 



Pomatorhinus rubeculus, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. 

 pi. 21. 



This bird is rather numerously dispersed over the northern 

 parts of Australia, where it takes the place of the Pomatostomus 

 temporalis of New South Wales, from which it differs but little 

 either in size or colouring; its slightly smaller dimensions 

 and the red hue of the breast are, however, characteristics by 

 which it may at all times be distinguished from its prototype. 

 On the Cobourg Peninsula it inhabits the open parts of the 

 country, and when disturbed takes to the higher branches of 

 the gums, first mounting upon one of the lower boughs, and 

 then, by a succession of hops and leaps, ascending to the top. 

 In its actions and economy it very closely assimilates to the 

 other species of the genus, being, like them, a noisy and 

 restless bird; and feeding on insects, which are frequently 

 sought for on the ground under the canopy of the larger 

 trees. 



Throat and stripe over each eye white ; chest and upper 

 part of the abdomen dull brownish red ; stripe from the 

 nostrils, through each eye to the occiput, blackish brown ; 

 centre of the crown, back, and lower part of the abdomen 

 dark brown, slightly tinged with olive ; upper and under tail- 

 coverts and tail black, all the feathers of the latter tipped with 

 white ; irides straw-yellow ; bill blackish grey, becoming paler 

 at the base ; legs and feet greenish grey. 



The sexes are alike in plumage. 



Total length 9 J inches ; bill 1-g^ ; wing 4 ; tail 4f ; tarsi \\. 



2i 



