W.flar-t d e l e l LiOu MYIAG-RA i r a r i T I S m s , Sdater.
•Minium Bros, imp
MYIAGRA FULVIVENTRIS , sdater.
Buff-bellied Flycatcher.
■Mijiayi,aftihimd) is, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1883, pp. 54, 200.— Meyer, Zeitschr. gesammte Ora. i. p. 194 (1884).
T his is one of the most distinct o f all the species o f grey-hacked Flycatchers o f the genus Mymgra, as it can
only be,confounded with two other species, viz. M. erythrops, which has a rufous forehead, and with the female
o f M. galeata. The latter, however, has the npper parts much duller grey, and the rufous of the under
surface is paler and almost uniform, the abdomen being only a shade lighter than the throat aud b rea s t; but
in M.filciven tris. as may be seen from the Plate, the throat and breast are o f a fine rich orange-rufous,
contrasting with the paler colour of the abdomen and sides of the body.
This species was discovered by Mr. H. O. Forbes in the Tenimber islands, having been met with by him in
Larat as well as in Loetoer,
The following descriptions are taken from the typical specimens in the British M u seum © ® ^ ?
A dult male. General colour above leaden grey, wjth a slight greenish gloss ; wing-eoverts like the back ;
bastard-wiug slightly more dusky ashy; primary-eoverts and quills dusky, externally edged with ashy grey,
rather paler on the p rimaries; tail-feathers pale slaty grey, with lighter ashy margins, and barred indistinctly
with dusky under certain lights, aud the outer feathers slig h tly tipped with fulvous; lores dull a sh y ; ear.
coverts leaden grey like the head ; cheeks, throat, and breast deep rich orange-rufous, the abdomen, sides of
body, and under tail-coyerts pale fawn-buff; thighs more a sh y ; axillaries and under wing-coverts a little
deeper rufous-buff; quills dusky below, ashy along the edge of the inner web : “ bill black; legs and feet
black; the soles yellow; iris dark brown ” (H . 0 . Forbes). Total length 5 5 inches, cnlmen 0-55, wing 2-8
tail 2 '8 , tarsus 0-75.
Adult female. Very similar to the male, but rather paler, especially on the under surface o f the b o d y :
“ hill lavender ( I I . 0 . Forbes). Total length 5 inches, culmen 0 ‘6, wing 2 ’55, tail 2 ’4, tarsus 0'75.
Another male bird collected by Mr. Forbes in Loetoer has the bill marked as fovender-coloured, like Ibe
female above described, which is from Larat. The bird from which the description o f the adult male is
taken is also from Larat, and is the one which is figured in the Plate.
[B. B. S.]