MnBPIMJIKA. METOOTHffiMX:» SabtuL.
RHIPIDURA LEUCOTHORAX, Saivad.
White-breasted Fantail Flycatcher.
Rhipidura leucothorax, Saivad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vi. p. 311 (18 7 4 ).—Id. & D’Albert, op. cit. vii. p. 820
(1875).—Saivad. op. cit. ix. p. 25 (1876), x. p. 134 (1876).—Oustalet, Bull. Soc. Philom. 1877, p. 6.—
Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iv. p. 327 (1879).—D’Albert. & Saivad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, xiv. p. 60
(1879)— Saivad. t. c. p. 498 (1879).—Id. Orn. Papuasia, etc. ii. p. 58 (1881).
Rhipidura episcopate, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. ii. p. 371 (1878).—Saivad. Ibis, 1879, p. 323.
T h is species belongs to the section o f the genus Rhipidura with blackish under tail-coverts and rounded
white spots on the chest. The large white breast-patch distinguishes it from all its near allies.
In North-western New Guinea the present bird has been found in Hatam and a t Mariati by Bruijn, and
D ’Albertis procured specimens iu Southern New Guinea on the Fly River, near Hall Bay and at Naiabui.
Mr. Ramsay has also described a bird as R . episcopate from Goldie River, in the iuterior o f South-eastern
New Guinea, which is certainly the same as R . leucothorax. I t shonld be noticed, however, that the single
example in the B ritish Museum, determined by Count Salvadori himself to be R . leucothorax, differs from his
description in having the chin white, and may belong to another species, unless it is the young bird.
T he following is a description o f the type specimen o f Rhipidura episcopate, which has been lent to us by
Mr. Ramsay:—
A du lt male. General colour above earthy brown, the head a little more dusky than the back and blacker
on the forehead; scapulars like the b a c k ; wing-coverts black, spotted with white a t their en d s ; primary-
coverts blackish ; quills dark sooty brown; upper tail-coverts black; tail-feathers black, tipped with white,
increasing in extent toward the o u term o st; lores and base o f forehead, feathers above and below the eye, and
ear-coverts black, extending on to the sides of the n e ck ; above the eye a band o f white separated from the
crown by a narrow line o f black ; hinder p art o f cheeks white, widening out on the sides o f the throat and
neck, and forming a large white patch ; fore p art o f cheeks and throat black, widening out on the fore neck
and chest, and having rounded white spots on the l a t t e r ; remainder o f breast white, the adjoining cliest-
feathers black, tipped with white, or white with black edges ; sides o f body and flanks pale ashy brown ; vent
and under tail-coverts black, the latter with white tips ; thighs black ; axillaries white with black bases; under
wing-coverts black, tipped with w h ite ; quills dusky below, pale brown along the edge o f the inner web.
Total length 6*8 inches, culmen 0 ’65, wing 3-05, tail 3*5, tarsus 0-85.
The Plate has been drawn from the specimen above described, which is represented in two positions, of
the size o f life.
[R. B. S.]