RECTES UROPYGIALIS, Gr«y. 
Rufous-and-Black Wood-Shrike. 
Rectes uropygialis, G. R. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, pp, 430, 435.— Finsch, New Guinea, p. 170 (1865).— 
Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, Ixix. p. 208 (1874).— Sharpe, Cat. Birds Bi’it. Mus. iii. 
p, 285 (1877). — Rosenb. Malay Arch. p. 395 (1879). 
CoUurichicIa uropygialis, Gray, Handl. B. i. p. 385, no. 5, 836 (1869). 
Rectes uropygialis ceramensis, Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, Ixix. p. 208 (1874). — Salvad. Proc. Zool. 
Soc. 1878, p. 96 (note). 
Rectes tibialis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. iii. p. 285 (1877). 
Rhectes uropygialis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, xv. p. 42 (1879).— Id. Orn. della Papuasia, &c. p. 193 
(1881). 
There are three species of the genus Rectes which are very closely allied to each other, and which are 
remarkable for their red and black plumage. These are R. uropygialis, from North-western New Guinea 
and Mysol, R. dicJirous, spread over the greater part of New Guinea, and R. aruensis from the Aru Islands. 
Of these three species the present is perhaps the finest, being slightly the largest in size. It differs 
from R, dichrous in having the whole of the rump and upper tail-coverts black, whereas in the last-named 
bird these parts are chestnut like the rest of the back. R, aruensis resembles the present bird in having 
the rump and upper tail-coverts black ; but, besides being rather smaller, it has the breast slightly paler 
and washed with black. 
Nothing has been recorded concerning the habits of this species, or of those of any member of the 
genus Rectes ; but we can easily suppose that they are not greatly different from those of the Australian 
Colluriocincla, Whereas R. dichrous appears to be spread over the greater part of the island of New 
Guinea, R. uropygialis takes its place in the western and north-western part of the island, and extends into 
Mysol. Mr. Sharpe was inclined at one time to separate the New-Guinea bird as Rectes tihialis ; but he 
informs me that he is now quite convinced of its identity with the Mysol bird. 
The following description is taken from Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum : — 
Adult rnale. Head, which is strongly crested, and nape black, as also the entire sides of the face, sides 
of neck, throat, fore neck, and chest ; hind neck, mantle, and upper back rich maroon-chestnut, rather 
more orange on the hind neck ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts black ; wings and tail black ; 
remainder of under surface of body, from the chest downwards, including the thighs, under wing- and 
tail-coverts, rich maroon-chestnut ; bill and legs black. 
Total length 11 inches, culmen I’l, wing A'7, tail 4'55, tarsus 1*36. 
Adult female. Similar to the adult male, and quite as richly coloured. Total length 1 1 inches, culmen 
1’25, wing 4’95, tail 4*75, tarsus 1‘35. 
The figures in the Plate represent an adult bird in two positions, of about the natural size, and are 
drawn from an example in my own collection. 
