19() BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



species, and it is consequently very puzzling to the ornitholo- 

 gist. In extreme youth, or during the first few months after 

 it has left the nest, the throat, chest, and back of the neck are 

 jet-black, while the breast and abdomen are rayed with ob- 

 scure arrow-shaped markings of the same colour on a greyish 

 white ground ; from this state individuals in every variety of 

 change, to the uniform grey throat and head, with black lores 

 and mark under the eye, are to be met with. Independently 

 of a difference in its markings, its much smaller size will at 

 all times serve to distinguish it from Graucalus melanops, 

 which inhabits the same districts. Insects of various orders 

 and caterpillars, which are either captured on the wing or taken 

 from the branches, form its diet. 



In the adult the upper surface and wings are dark slate- 

 grey, passing into paler grey on the forehead and on the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts ; primaries and secondaries slaty black, 

 narrowly edged with greyish white ; outer webs of the three 

 secondaries nearest the body grey; tail black, the lateral 

 feathers largely tipped with white ; lores deep velvety black, 

 which colour is continued above and below the eye ; throat 

 and breast grey ; insertion of the wing, under surface of the 

 wing, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white ; bill black ; 

 irides and feet dark brown. 



Sp. 106. GRAUCALUS HYPOLEUCUS, Gould. 



White-bellied Graucalus. 



Graucalus hypoleucus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1848, p. 38. 

 Campephaga hypoleuca, G. R. Gray, Cat. of Mam. and Birds of New 

 Guinea in Brit. Mus., p. 32. 



Graucalus hypoleucus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii. pi. 57. 



This species inhabits the neighbourhood of Port Essington, 

 where it is a very familiar bird, constantly flitting about the 

 branches overhanging the houses of the settlement. In its 

 general habits, manners, and note it closely assimilates to the 



