TANYSIPTERA SYLVIA, Gould. 
White-tailed Tanysiptera. 
Tanysiptera Sylvia, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., July 23, 1850. — Jard. Cont. Orn., 1850. 
Quataivur, of the Aborigines at Cape York. 
Every new species discovered after the publication of a work on the Birds of a country must be regarded 
with interest; and the interest is much enhanced, when, as in the present instance, the additional species is 
of a scarce and beautiful form. One, or at the utmost two species of the genus Tanysiptera are all with 
which we were previously acquainted ; the beautiful T. Dea is well known to be a native of New Guinea, 
and in all probability the range of the present species will extend to that country ; but hitherto it has only 
been found on the northern coast of Australia, Cape York being the sole locality it is at present known to 
inhabit; and where, judging from the numerous specimens lately sent to this country, it appears to be by no 
means scarce : independently of those brought home by Mr. MacGillivray and the officers of H.M.S. 
Rattlesnake, I have also received fine examples from Mr. James Wilcox of Sydney. 
As is the case with the Halcyonidce generally, the sexes appear to present but little difference in size and 
colouring, but the female may be distinguished from the male by being somewhat less brilliant in colour and 
in the lesser development of the central tail-feathers. 
“This pretty Tanysiptera,” says Mr. MacGillivray, “is rather plentiful in the neighbourhood of Cape 
York, where it frequents the dense brushes, and is especially fond of resorting to the small sunny openings 
in the woods, attracted probably by the greater abundance of insect food found in such places than else- 
where : I never saw it on the ground, and usually was first made aware of its presence by the glancing of 
its bright colours as it darted past with a rapid, arrow-like flight, and disappeared in an instant among the 
dense foliage. Its cry, which may be represented by ‘ ivh ee-whee- ivh ee ’ and * wheet-wheet-wheet,’ is usually 
uttered while the bird is perched on a bare transverse branch or woody rope-like climber, which it uses as 
a look-out station, and whence it makes short dashes at any passing insect or small lizard, generally 
returning to the same spot. It is a shy suspicious bird, and one well-calculated to try the patience of the 
shooter, who may follow it in a small brush for an hour without getting a shot, unless he has as keen an eye 
as the native to whom I was indebted for first pointing it out to me. According to the natives, who know 
it by the name of ‘ Quatawur,’ it lays three white eggs in a hole dug by itself in one of the large ant- 
hills of red clay which form so remarkable a feature in the neighbourhood, some of them being as much 
as ten feet in height, with numerous buttresses and pinnacles. I believe that the bird also inhabits New 
Guinea ; for at Redscar Bay, on the south-east side of that great island, in long. 146° 50' E., a head strung 
upon a necklace was procured from the natives.” 
Crown of the head, wings, and five lateral tail-feathers on each side blue ; ear-coverts, back of the neck 
and mantle black ; in the centre of the latter a triangular mark of white ; rump and two middle tail-feathers 
pure white ; under surface cinnamon-red ; bill and feet sealing-wax-red. 
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size. 
