GRAUCALUS MENTALIS. 



(Varied Oraucalus.) 



Adult.— Lores, deep black; upper surface and wings, dark slatey grey, becoming lighter on the upper tail coverts; primaries and secondaries, 

 slatey black, narrowly edged with greyish white ; tertiaries, black, broadly edged with grey ; tail, black, all but the central feathers, largely 

 tipped with white ; throat, chest, and upper part of abdomen, grey ; lower portion of abdomen, under tail coverts, and under surface of wing, 

 white ; bill, black ; irides and feet, dark brown. 



The young birds differ much in appearance according to age. Shortly after leaving the nest the throat, chest, and back of the 

 neck are jet black, and the chest and abdomen, greyish white, marked with arrow-shaped spots of black. Others are met with in a further 

 advanced state of plumage, partaking more or less of approach to the character of that of the adult. 



Length, lOi inches ; wing, 5f ; tail, 5 ; bill, li ; tarsus, |. 



This species is found in the northern portion of the colony of New South Wales and the southern parts of Queensland, 

 becoming rare towards the north. Its principal food consists of insects. 



GRAUCALUS HYPOLEUCUS. 



(Wkite-hellied Graucalus.) 



LoEES, black ; crown and upper surface, dark grey ; primaries and tail, black ; secondaries and tertiaries, edged with greyish white ; throat 

 and under surface, white ; chest washed with grey ; irides and bill, blackish brown ; feet black. The females and young have the lores a dull 

 brown color. 



• Length, 9| inches; wing, 5|; tail, 4|^ ; bill, li ; tarsus, |. 



It is found abundantly in Northern Australia, seldom being seen so far to the south as Brisbane. A single specimen was shot 

 near Sydney, by Mr. Waller, some years ago. Throughout the Coburg Peninsula it is very common as well as very tame and familiar, 

 associating in small companies of ten or twelve. When the settlement at Port Essington was in existence it was always to be seen flitting 

 about the trees surrounding the houses. Its food consists of insects of various kinds. In its habits and notes it approximates closely to the 

 other species of the genus, and is readily distinguished from them by the lighter color of its breast and abdomen. 



