94 Mr. W. E. Ogilvie-Grant on Birds 



and I feel doubtful whether it should be retained in the 

 genus Pachycephala. 



Pachycephala poliosoma approximans. 



Pachycephala poliosoma approximans Ogilvie-Grrant, Bull. 

 B. 0. C. xxix. p. 26 (1911). 



Pachycephala ijoliosoma Roths. & Hartert (nee Sharpe), 

 N. Z. XX. p. 509 (1913). 



a-g. S ? . Itakwa River, 23rd Jan.-6th Feb. 1911. 

 [Nos. 902, 913, 914, 915, 922*, 957*, 1001, C. H. B. G.] 

 (* Types of the subspecies.^ 



h-o. S ? • 0-Am^ 3, Utakwa River, 2500 ft., 20th Nov. 

 1912-8th Jan. 1913. [C. B. K.'] 



This subspecies is most nearly allied to P. poliosoma 

 Sharpe, from British New Guinea ; but the top of the head 

 and ear-coverts are very dark slate-grey like the rest of the 

 underparts, while in P. poliosoma the crown and ear-coverts 

 are washed with brown : also the fore-neck and chest are 

 uniform dark grey like the rest of the underparts, while in 

 P. poliosoma they are washed with earthy-brown imme- 

 diately below the white throat. 



Iris yellowish- white ; bill black ; feet ash-colour. 



Wing 105-106 mm., tail 61-67 mm. 



For some unknown reason Dr. Hartert has refused to 

 recognise this perfectly distinct form, of which our expedi- 

 tions procured fourteen examples, all precisely similar. Of 

 typical P. poliosoma Sharpe, from South-east New Guinea, 

 we have a series of nineteen examples, all of which diifer 

 in the manner described, possessing a brownish-grey crown 

 and brown upper chest. When laid out in two series the 

 two forms are strikingly different and should clearly be 

 kept separate. 



" This Grey Thick-head was tolerably common in the 

 mountains. It frequented the ground and was usuallv met 

 with singly. It might easily bo mistaken for a grey species 

 of Pitta.'^— C. H. B. G. 



Pachycephala dorsalis. 



Pachycephala dorsalis Ogilvie-Grant, Bull. B. 0. C. xxix. 

 p. 26 (1911). 



