PACHYCEPHALA SIMPLEX, Gould.
Plain-coloured Pachycephala.
Pachycephala simplex, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 135.
The Pachycephala simplex is a native of the north-western parts of Australia, but does not appear to be very numerous in any locality yet explored; Mr. Gilbert, who discovered it in the neighbourhood of Port Essington, states that it is of a very shy and retiring disposition, and that it is usually met with in pairs hopping and creeping about among the underwood or very thickly-foliaged trees, but may be more frequently seen in thickets situated in the midst of swamps or among the mangroves. In its mode of feeding and in many of its actions it greatly resembles the Flycatchers, but does not like them shake or move the tail. Its voice, which is peculiarly soft and mournful, consists of a single note four times repeated with rather lengthened intervals; this however appears to be its call-note only, for at other times it utters a somewhat pleasing and lengthened song; “but,” says Mr. Gilbert, “I never heard it emit that sharp terminating note, resembling the smack of a whip, which concludes the song of all the other species of the genus.”
The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects and seeds of various kinds.
It appears to breed during the months of December, January and February, for the ovarium of a female killed on the third of the last-mentioned month contained eggs very fully developed, and from the bare state of the breast appeared to have been already engaged in the task of incubation.
All the upper surface brown; under surface brownish white, with a very faint stripe of brown down the centre of each feather; irides light brown; bill and feet black.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.