pachycephala

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


the scientific name for thetypical genus of Pachycephalinae, founded in 1826 byVigors and Horsfield. It is an extensive group of thick-headedshrikes, containing about fifty species, ranging in the Indianand Australian region, but not in New Zealand. The type is P. gutturalis, Lath., of Australia. (`Century.') Theyare singing-birds, and are called Thickheads (q.v.),and often Thrushes (q.v.). The name is from the Greek pachus, thick, and kephalae, the head.