134 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. Ill 



ON PACHYCEPHALA MELANURA GOULD. 

 By Gregory M. Mathews. 



Gould wrote: ''The Pachycephala melanura is a native of 

 the northern coasts of Australia, where it was procured by 

 B. Bynoe, Esq., during the surveying voyage of H.M.S. the 

 Beagle. It may be readily distinguished from the P. 

 gutturalis and P. glaucura by the jet-black colouring of the 

 tail (which organ is also shorter and more square than that of 

 any other species), by its much longer bill, and by the colouring 

 of the back of the neck and the under-surface being richer 

 than that of either of those above named. I have not yet 

 seen a female of this fine species. Whenever this sex is col- 

 lected, it will be found to bear a very general resemblance 

 to the females of P. gutturalis and P. glaucura." 



Campbell described a bird as Eopsaltria hilli from Hecla 

 Island, Parry Harbour, North-west Australia. I concluded 

 this was the female of Gould's Pachycephala melanura and 

 this decision was accepted by Campbell. The exact locality of 

 Bynoe's bird being unknown, I designated Derby, as the males 

 from there agreed accurately with the specimen figured as well 

 as described by Gould. 



Consideration of the forms for the purpose of figuring speci- 

 mens for my Birds of Australia has shown that a recon- 

 sideration of values is necessary. In my List I associated all 

 the forms under the name Pachycephala pectoralis (Latham), 

 twelve subspecies being recognised, the differences in the males 

 being considered of small value, while the females were not fully 

 criticised owing to lack of material from northern localities. 



The prevalent idea had been voiced by Campbell : " The 

 general or common species (P. gutturalis) ranges from Rocking- 

 ham Bay district, Queensland, round to South Australia, 

 grading into the Black-tailed Thickhead (P. melanura) on the 

 one hand at Cape York and Northern Territory, and on the 



