ARSES lOEILESCOPHTMiMIÎS:,
ARSES TELESCOPHTHALMUS.
Frilled-necked Flycatcher.
Muscicapa lelescophthalma, Garnot, Voy. Coquille, i. pt. 2, p. 593, pi. 19. fig. 1 (1826).
Muscicapa enado, Less. Voy. Coquille, i. pt. 2, p. 643, pi. 15. fig. 2 (18 2 6 ).—Sclater, Proc. Linn. Soc. 1858,
p. 181.
Arses telescophthabnus, Lesson, Traité, p. 387 (1 8 3 1 ).—Bp. Consp. i. p. 326 (1850).—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ.
Genov, x. p. 132 (18 7 7 ).—Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iv. p. 409 (1 8 7 9 ).
Monarclia lelescophthalma, Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 257 (1 8 3 7 ).—Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 260 (18 4 6 ).—Id. P. Z. S.
1858, p. 177, 1859, p. 156.—Id. Cat. B. N. Guinea, p. 30 (18 5 9 ).—Id. P. Z. S. 1861, p. 435.—Finsch,
Neu-Guinea, p. 169 (1 8 6 5 ).—Gray, Handl. B. i. p. 320 (1869).
Monacha lelescophthalma, Swains. Nat. Libr. Flycatchers, p. 140 (1837).
A ll the species of the genus Arses are remarkable for a frill o r tippet round the back p art o f the neck, and
for a naked skin o f blue which surrounds the ey e; the former, it appears, the bird has the power of
erecting. That the appearance which I have given to the present species in the accompanying Plate is no
exaggeration may be believed from the fact th at Signor D ’Albertis brought me a specimen, killed by
himself, dried in an erect position, in order to show the way in which these birds are capable o f elevating
this frill. Mr. Broadbent had also preserved some o f his specimens with an evident view to show this
peculiarity. The present species has been known the longest, having been described in 1826. I t appears to
be confined to Northern New Guinea and to Mysol, whence numerous specimens have been sent to England,
and where a large series also appears to have rewarded the exertions of the Dutch and Italian travellers. It
is to be recognized from the allied species by its larger black chin-spot. The female may be told a t a glance
from the same sex of A . aruensis by its white lores, and from the females of A . bat ant a; and A . insularis
by its deep orange-cliestnnt back, which renders the orange collar round the hind neck only a little darker
than the rest o f the upper surface. The head is blackish or very dark g re y ; and the colour o f the tail,
which is rufous-brown edged with chestnut, is also a distinguishing' peculiarity o f the species. For the
following descriptions I am indebted to Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue:—
“A dult male. General colour glossy steel-black; the scapulars and lower mantle-feathers white a t their
ends, where they adjoin the lower back, which', with the rump, is white, the bases to the feathers being
g r e y ; wings entirely black ; upper tail-coverts and tail black ; crown of head, sides of face and ear-eoverts>
fore p art o f cheeks, chin, and upper throat black, the plumes o f the head o f a velvety texture, and with a
slight steel g lo ss; hinder p art o f cheeks, sides o f neck, and a collar round the hind neck, as well as entire
under surface o f body pure white, including the under wing-coverts and axillaries ; thighs black, as also the
edge of the wing ; ‘ bill pearly g r e y ; feet dull lead-colour o r ashy ; iris black; fleshy wattle round the eye
sky-blue ’ (ZTAlbertis').
“ Total length 6 ‘4 inches, culmen 0*6, wing 3 -15, t a il2*85, tarsus 0*7.
“Adult female. General colour orange-brown, brighter on the hind n e c k ; wings dusky brown, all the
coverts and quills externally orange-brown o r rufous; crown of head dull slate-colour, as well as the feathers
round aud below the e y e ; in front of the latter a large spot o f dull wh ite ; sides o f face, sides o f neck,
throat, and breast o ran g e ; remainder of under surface pure white, the flanks washed with reddish brown;
thighs entirely of the latter c o lo u r; under wing-coverts whitish, washed slightly with o ran g e ; quills dull
brown below, rufous along the inner web s; ‘ bill d usky; feet a sh y ; iris black ’ {UAlbertis).
“ Total length 6’3 inches, culmen 0 -6, wing 3 -2, tail 2 -9, tarsus 0 -65.”
Fine specimens o f this bird are in my own collection ; it will also be found in the British Museum,
and Leyden, Dresden, and many other collections both on the Continent and in America.