Clarence and Richmond Examiner, Grafton, Tuesday, June 12, 1866. p.2 col.4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-SCIENTIFIC NEWS.
Zoological Society of London.
Description of a new species of the genus Atrichia,
from the Richmond River, by Edward P. Ramsay,
of Dobroyd, Sydney, New South Wales, Atrichia
rufescens (Ramsay).
Male. -- All the upper suface rufous-brown
becoming rufous on wings and tail, each feather
crossed by crescent-shaped bars of blackish-brown,
except on the outer webs of the wing coverts, secon-
daries and primaries, which are crossed by numerous
zigzag lines of black; underside of wing and
inner webs of primaries and secondaries dark brown ;
under wing coverts brown, edged with rufous ; tail,
both upper and under sides of thc feathers, crossed
with numerous distinct bars of blackish-brown ; ear
coverts, cheeks, sides of the throat, and neck, rufous
brown, barred indistinctly with dark brown, becoming
more distinct on sides of chest, which are rufous ;
throat whitish; rest of the under surface deep
rufous, becoming brighter and of a much deeper tint
on the centre of the abdomen and under tails coverts ;
flanks crossed with wavy lines of blackish brown ;
bill dark horn colour, becoming whitish on lower
mandible; legs and feet brown; claws light horn
colour.
Total length 6 2-10 inches ; bill 7-10 inches length,
in breadth 2-10, in height 2-10 of an inch ; tarsi 81/2
tenths, claw of hind toe 3 tenths, claw of middle
toe 2-10; wing 2 4-IO inches; tail 2 9-10 inches.
Hab. Brushes of the Clarence and Richmond Rivers,
Now South Wales.
Remarks: This new species of Atrichia, which I
have distinguished under, the specific name of
rufescens, is an inhabitant of the dense scrubs and
masses of luxuriant vegetation on the banks of the
Richmond and neighbouring rivers, where it was
discovered by Mr. J. M Gillivray during October 1865.
Its habits clossly resemble those of its near ally
A. clamosus of the Western coast. It differs, however,
greatly in size, and in colour of the plumage, the
new bird being only one half as large and having a
decided tint of rufous pervading the whole surface,
besides many other remarkable differences above
mentioned. lt is a great source of regret that the
males only were procured, as neither was the opposite
sex of A. clamosa obtained either by the late Mr.
Gilbert, or byMr. G. Masters during his recent visit
to Western Australia.
Previously only one species (A. clamosa) was
known of this very interesting and peculiar genus,
but we know now that it is represented in N. S. W.
by the A. rufescens, a well marked and pretty bird,
although devoid of any bright colouring. I must
I here acknowledge the kindness of Mr Gerard Krefft,
of tho Australian Museum, in allowing me to examine
the beautiful specimens of the A. clamosa procured
by Mr. G. Masters during his recent visit to the
West coast, thereby enabling me to make a strict
comparison of them with the new species, which was
of the greatest importance. Thc sternum of Atrichia
closely resembles that of Psophodes, but the furcula,
as Mr. M'Gillivray remarks, is very slight and
delecate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last updated 2014.08.21