P E L TO P S B I iA IK V I lX ÏL
PELTOPS BLAINVILLEI.
Broad-billed Flycatcher.
Eurylaimus Blainvillei, Garnot, Voy. Coquille, i. p. 595, pi. 19.—Finsch, Neu-Guinea, p. 160.
Peltops Blainvittii, Wagler.—Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 66.—Bp. Consp. i. p. 169.—Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 59, pi. 440.
figs. 3211, 3212.—Scl. Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. ii. (1858} p. 160.—Gray, Cat. Mamm. &c. N. Guin.
p. 19.—Id. P. Z. S. 1861, p. 433.—Wall. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 165.—Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 319.—Scl. Ibis,
1872, p. 1 7 7—Id. P .Z .S . 1873, p. 696.
Erolla Blainvillei, Less. Traité, p. 260.
Platysomus Blainvillei, Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 261.
T his curious form of Flycatcher is only found in New Guinea and Mysol, Von Rosenberg having discovered
it in the latter island. The original specimen was procured at Dorey in New Gu in ea; and Mr. Wallace
also met with i t in the north-western p art of the same island, while Signor d’Albertis shot an example at
Sorong. So rare has the species always been in collections, th at a special examination o f its structure has
always been difficult; thus the bird has until lately been placed with the Broad-bills (Eurykemidae). Dr.
Sclater was the first to recognize the true affinities o f the g en u s ; and I cannot do better than quote his
observations on the subject
“ The genus Peltops, containing the single species P . BlaineiUii of New Guinea, has been usually referred
to the Eurylceminae, or Broad-bills, and the group thus formed united in the same family with the Rollers
(Coraciadse), the Todies (Todidae), and the Motmots (Momotidae), or, a t all events, placed in their
immediate neighbourhood. Several errors are, in my opinion, embraced in this classification.
“ In the first place, Peltops has nothing whatever to do with the Eurylaemidae, being a truly Muscicapine
form allied to Monarcha and Machcerirhynchus, as the most casual examination of its structure a t once
shows. The mistake, no doubt, comes from the somewhat exaggerated form o f the bill in Peltops, and
from its general coloration resembling that of Cymbirliynchus. T h e rarity o f Peltops has prevented the
e rro r from being discovered. On examining the wing of Peltops it will be seen that the first primary is
short or ‘ spurious ’ (as in all the true Oscines) when it exists a t all. In Cymbirliynchus there are ten fully
formed primaries. There is also a conspicuous difference in the size of the feet in the two forms, these
organs being strong and thick in Cymbirliynchus, while they are feeble and weak in Peltops, as in other
Muscicapidae. The relegation o f Peltops to the Muscicapidae also removes an anomaly in geographical
distribution, it being obviously strange th at no otherwise exclusively Indo-Malayan type, such as the
Eurylaemidae, should have a single outlier in New Guinea.”
General colour, both above and below, glossy black, including the wings and t a il; ear-coverts and a patch
on the interscapulary region w h ite ; rump, vent, upper and under tail-coverts crimson. Total length
7 inches, culmen 0 -95, wing 3 9, tail 3'4 , tarsus 0*6.
My Plate is drawn from Signor d’Albertis’s Sorong specimen, which he kindly lent me when in London.
T he figure is life-size.