RECTES JOBIENSIS, Mej/er. 
Jobi-Island Wood-Shrike. 
Rectes jobiensis, Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. der Wiss. zu Wien, Ixix. p. 205 (1874).— Sclater, Ibis 1874, p. 417 
Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vii. p. 173 (1875), viii. p. 40 (1876).— Sharpe, Cat, B. Brit. Mus. 
iii. p. 287 (1877). — Gieb. Thes. Orn. iii. p. 412 (1877). 
Rhectes jobiensis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, xv. p. 43 no. 12 (1879). — Id. Orn. Papuasia, &c. ii. p. 201 
(1881). 
The Shrike-like genus Rectes consists of a small number of birds found in New Guinea and in the 
neighbouring islands. It is divided into two sections, consisting of those species which have a distinct 
cap of darker colour on the head, and those species which have no cap whatever ; and the present bird will 
be seen at once to belong to the second section. Its nearest allies therefore are Rectes cervineiventris 
from Waigiou, and R. cristatus of New Guinea ; but it is very distinct from both of these by reason of its 
foxy red colour both above and below. 
The present bird was discovered by Dr. A. B. Meyer in the island of Jobi, which is situated in the Bay of 
Geelvink, in North-western New Guinea. He preserved several specimens of it; and it has also been met 
with there by Dr. Beccari and in the neighbouring little islet of Krudu. 
Dr. Meyer says that the note of this bii’d is a “ chrrr and its habits are doubtless the same as those 
of the rest of the genus, of which at present we unfortunately know hut little. 
The following description of the species I take from Mr. Bowdler Sharpe’s Catalogue of Birds : — 
Jdidt male. General colour above bright foxy red, paler on the head ; wing-coverts like the back; quills 
dark brown, externally rufous, the inner secondaries entirely rufous; tail-feathers chestnut, the shafts 
rufous ; lores, sides of face, and under surface of body deep rich tawny buff, darker on the throat and fore 
neck, and inclining to chestnut on the lower flanks and under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts bright 
tawny, like the breast ; quills dusky brown below, rufous on the outer web and along the inner web ; bill 
light yellowish horn-colour; feet blackish, claws pale. Total length 9'2 inches, culinen 11*5, wing 4‘65, 
tail 4‘35, tarsus 1‘35. 
Adult female. Similar in colouring to the male. 
Total length 10’5 inches, wing 4*6, tail 4*3, tarsus 1*25. 
Young male. Similar in colour to the adult, but rather duller ; the bill shorter and duller brown. 
The above descriptions were taken from the typical specimens lent to Mr. Sharpe by Dr. Meyer; and 
from one of these I have drawn the accompanying figure, which is of about the natural size. 
