PIEZORHYNCHUS Casrus

White-crowned Flycatcher.

Monarcha castus, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1883, p. 53, pl. xii. fie, 1

Tus beautiful species of Flycatcher belongs to the pied section of the genus Monarch
Piezorhynchus, as set forth in the ‘ Catalogue of Birds’), which includ uM. ae ieee
! 2 : ; ‘ludes JM. verticahs, MV s, M |
and other well-known Moluccan and Papuan species. It would appear t . ae 7 were
| \ ‘ See appear to resemble MZ. verticals ver
ane Fapuan spc M. lis very closely
and, like that species, has the ear-coverts, sides of neck, and summit of crown white, while the distrib ti
Y — : stribution
of white on the wing-coverts is the same; but it would seem to be at once distinguished by the ]j
of white spots on the throat, and by having the i | 7 Wee
elie vy having the inner secondaries edged with white ins ir bei
: ' 2 ‘ s edged with white instead of their being
entirely pure white as in JV. verticalis. :
Only a single specimen was contained in Mr. Forbes’s collection, from which we gather that the species
is rather rare in the part of the Tenimber Islands visited by him.

 

The following is a description of the original type :
7 :

Adult male. General aspect above variegated; the back and mantle bluish black, somewhat mixed with
grey on the lower back as it approaches the rump, the lower part of which, with the upper tail-coverts, is
white; least Bere coverts black; entire median series and inner greater coverts white; outer greater
ppreris black tipped with white ; bastard wing, primary-coverts, and quills black, the secondaries narroaly
fringed with white near the tip of the outer web; the innermost secondaries broadly edged with white
externally; centre tail-feathers black, the next with a small triangular tip of white, which mene in extent
towards the outer feathers until the external one is white for more than the terminal half; forehead, lores,
and a narrow superciliary line extending backwards and forming a broad nuchal collar bluish black ; the crown
of the head pure white encircled by the black aforesaid ; feathers below the eye, cheeks, and throat black,
which extends in a broad band and joins the black nuchal collar above mentioned, thus encircling the white
he lower throat decorated with white tips to the feathers,

ear-coverts, which form a conspicuous patch; t
as to form a more or less distinct collar

forming a triple line ; sides of neck white, extending backwards so
remainder of under surface from the throat downwards pure

separating the nuchal band from the mantle ;
the white of the under surface slightly

white, excepting the hinder aspect of the thighs, which is black ;
sullied with a grey shade; under wing-coverts and axillaries white,

adjacent coverts, which are black; quills blackish below, edged with wh
” (H. O. Forbes). Total length 5°75 inches, culmen

excepting the edge of the wing and the
ite along the inner web; “ bill lavender,

tip black ; legs and feet lavender ; iris reddish brown
000, wing 2:7, tail 2:7, tarsus 0°79.

The Plate represents the typical specimen of the 0 positions.

present species, of the natural size, in tw
(R. B. 8.]