W.Hart deL e t lid i.
Modern Bros. imp.
PIEZORHYNCHUS BRODIEI.
Brodie’s Flycatcher.
Monarcha brodiei, Ramsay, Proc. Lian. Soc. N. S. W. iv. p. 80 (1878).-—Salvad. Ibis, 1880, p. 129.—Id. Ora.
Papuasia, etc. ii. p. 26 (1880).
Monarclut barbata, Ramsay, Nature, xx. p. 125 (1879).
Monarcha barbatilo, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, iv. p. 507 (1879).
T his species belongs to a group o f Flycatchers o f the genus Piezorhynchus, which seems to be peculiar to the
Solomon Islands, for its members do not agree with any of the Papuan or Moluccan forms o f the genus. In
the white under surface, black throat, and black ear-coverts the present bird approaches P . guttulatus,
which it also resembles in having white tips to the outer tail-feathers ; but its entirely black upper surface
distinguishes it a t once both from P . guttulatus and P . morotensis, which are grey above.
The habitat o f the present species is the Solomon Archipelago, where it was found by Mr. Cockerell in
Guadalcanar and Lango.
We describe the typical examples as follows:—
Adult male. General colour above blue-black, the feathers of the head rather velvety in texture, and scale-like
on the fore p art o f the crown; scapulars b lack ; least wing-coverts black, tipped with white where they
adjoin the median series, which, with the greater coverts, are pure white with concealed black bases ; bastard
wing, primary-coverts, and quills b lack ; tail-feathers black, the three outer feathers tipped with white;
lores, feathers below the eye, fore part of cheeks, and ear-coverts blue-black; a large patch o f white
extending from the hinder cheeks along the sides o f the neck and united to the b reast; throat black, the
feathers long, rounded, and scale-like; rest of under surface o f body from the lower throat downwards pure
wh ite; thighs black, edged with white; axillaries and under wing-coverts white, with a black patch near the
edge o f the win g ; quills blackish below, ashy along the edge o f the inner web. Total length 5*7 inches,
culmen 0*5, wing 2*95, tail 2*6, tarsus 0*75.
Adult female. Different from the male. General colour above brown, with faintly indicated dusky centres
to the feathers of the forehead and crown, which are denser and somewhat scaly in appearance ; lesser wing-
coverts like the b ack ; the median series white at base and pale fulvous brown a t the ends, forming an
indistinct wing-bar; greater series dark brown, edged externally with reddish brown ; bastard wing and
primary-coverts dark brown; quills dusky brown, externally of the same colour as the b a c k ; upper tail-
coverts and tail-feathers black, the three outer ones broadly tipped with white, increasing in extent towards the
outermost; lores dull whitish, obscured with dull brown tips to the feathers ; eyelid dusky slate-colour; ear-
coverts dusky g r e y ; cheeks and sides o f neck pale orange-rufous; throat scaly in appearance, as in the male,
and of a dusky grey colour washed with fulvous brown; fore neck and sides o f breast pale orange-rufous,
extending on to the flanks ; centre o f breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white, with a slight tinge of
orange-buff; thighs g re y ; under wing-coverts and axillaries light orange-rufous; quills dusky below, whitish
along the edge o f the inner web. Total length 5*5 inches, culmen 0*6, wing 3*0, tail 2*7, tarsus 0*75.
The typical specimens are represented in the Plate, of the size o f life, together with a young male in
intermediate plumage; and we have to thank Mr. E. P. Ramsay for the opportunity o f describing and
figuring these interesting specimens.
[R. B. S.]