Both the specimens above-mentioned are from the Cobourg Peninsula, where the species is not uncommon, and it will doubtless, hereafter, be found to range over a great portion of the north coast. No further account of the habits of this fine bird have been received than that it inhabits the thick “cane-beds” near the coast, through which it runs with great facility; the boldness and richness of its markings render it a most attractive object in the bush.
Head, neck, breast, abdomen, flanks and thighs deep velvety black; over the eye, extending to the occiput, a band of ferruginous brown; upper surface and wings golden green; shoulders bright metallic cærulean blue, bordered below with lazuline blue; primaries black, passing into olive-brown at their tips, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth having a spot about the centre of the feather; tail black at the base, green at the tip, the former colour running on the inner web nearly to the tip; rump-feathers tinged with cærulean blue; lower part of the abdomen and under tail-coverts bright scarlet, separated from the black of the abdomen by yellowish brown; irides dark brown; bill black; feet flesh-colour.
The figures are of the natural size.
CINCLOSOMA PUNCTATUM: Vig. & Horsf.
J. & E. Gould del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp.
CINCLOSOMA PUNCTATUM, Vig. & Horsf.
Spotted Ground-Thrush.
Turdus Punctatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xliv.
Punctated Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 187.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 130.—Shaw, Zool. New Holl., p. 25.—Ib. Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 202.
Cinclosoma Punctatum, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 220.—Griff. An. King., vol. vi. p. 529. pl. 29.
This species has been long known to ornithologists, being one of the birds earliest described from Australia; still little or no information has hitherto been acquired respecting its habits and economy, which, however, are extremely interesting.