RECTES LEUCORHYNCHUS, Graj/. 
White-billed Wood-Shrike. 
Rectes leucorhynchis, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 430. — Finsch, Neu-Guinea, p. 170 (1865). — Meyer, Sitz. 
k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, Ixix. p. 206 (1874). — Rosenb. Malay. Arch. p. 395 (1879). 
Colluricincla leucorhyncha, Gray, Hand-list B. i. p. 386, no. 5838 (1869). 
Pseudorectes leucorhynchus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. iii. p. 288 (1877). 
Rhectes leucorhynchus, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, xv. p. 43 (1879). — Id. Orn. Papuasia e delle Molucche, 
ii. p. 206 (1881). 
This Wood-Shrike is easily distinguished from all the other Papuan members of the group by its white 
bill and sombre coloration. It was originally described by the late Mr. George Gray, from Gagie Island, in 
the Moluccas; but the original specimens, nowin the British Museum, were obtained by Mr, Wallace in 
Waigioii, and we do not understand Mr. Gray’s authority for the occurrence of the species in Gagie. It 
has since been obtained by Dr. Beccari both in VYaiglou and in Batanta. Nothing has yet been recorded 
concerning its habits. 
The following description is copied from the British Museum ‘ Catalogue of Birds’: — 
Adult male. Above rufous brown, the rump and the tail a little brighter, the crown and sides of the 
head slightly darker ; wing-coverts like the back, but a little darker brown ; quills dark brown, externally 
dark rufous brown ; under surface of body deep rufous fawn-colour, the throat paler ; under wing- and tail- 
coverts uniform with the breast; bill yellowish white. Total length 12 inches, culmen 1*15, wing 5'7, 
tail 5'2, tarsus 1’5.” 
The Plate represents two specimens of this bird, of the natural size, and is drawn from individuals in the 
British Museum. 
[R. B. S.] 
