AILURGEDUS BUCCOIDES. 
Barbet-like Cat-bird. 
Kitta huccoides, Temm. PI. Col. 575. — Von Rosenb. J. f. O. 1864, p. 122. 
Cissa huccoides. Gray, Gen. B. iii., App. p. 14. 
Ptilonorhynchus huccoides, Gray, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 194. — Id. Cat. Mamm. & B. N. Guin. p. 37. — Schl. Mus. P. B., 
Coraces, p. 118. — Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 294. — Schl. N. T. D. iv. p. 49. 
Mluroedus huccoides, Elliot, Monogr. Parad. pi. 36. — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 697. 
Although this bird, aptly named huccoides by Teniminck on account of its resemblance to tbe Barbets of 
the genus Megalesma, has been known for so many years, and specimens not unfrequently turn up in 
collections from New Guinea, there is nothing recorded of its babits or economy. It is confined to the 
islands of New Guinea and Waigiou, the Leiden Museum possessing a considerable number of specimens 
collected in these localities by the late Dr. Bernstein. The original specimen was procured at Triton Bay, 
on the west coast of New Guinea ; and other localities mentioned by Professor Schlegel are Sorong, the 
north coast of Salwatti, and the island of Batanta. 
In its general green coloration this bird resembles the other species of the genus ; but it may be readily 
distinguished by the more decided spotting of the breast and by the very distinct whitish streaks which are 
seen on the nape of the neck ; besides which it is by far the smallest species of the whole genus, a group 
of birds intimately allied to the Bower-birds {CMamydodera and Ptilonorhynchus ) ; but up to the present 
moment we have no information as to whether the members of the genus Ailuroedus ever eonstruct a bower. 
Upper surface of body, the wings included, grass-green, tbe secondaries slightly tipped with yellow ; head 
olive-brown washed with green ; all the feathers of the neck pale yellow, with large terminal spots of 
black, giving a streaked appearance to this part ; a great many of the interscapulary plumes barred with 
yellow, some spotted with black ; tail green ; sides of face and throat huffy white, the former thickly spotted 
with black ; rest of under surface ochraceous buff washed with green, with a black spot to each of tbe 
feathers, disappearing on the under tail-coverts ; the spots greenish on the lower abdomen ; under wing- 
coverts salmon-buff, the outermost with brown-mottled bases; bill yellowish white ; tarsi and feet lead- 
colour. Total length 10 inches; culmen TO. wing 4‘9, tail 3‘6, tarsus U4. 
Apparently there is no difference in the sexes ; and the figures in the accompanying Plate are as nearly 
life-size as possible. 
