MYIAGRA FULVIVENTRIS, Seiater.

Buff-bellied Flycatcher.

Myiagra fulviventris, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1883. pp. 54, 200.—Meyer, Zeitschr. gesammte Orn, i. p. 194 (1884).

 

Turs is one of the most distinct of all the species of grey-backed Flycatchers of the genus Myiagra, as it can
only be confounded with two other species, viz. JZ. erythrops, which has a rufous forehead, and with the female
of ML, galeata. ‘The latter, however, has the upper 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 and breast ; but
in J. fulviventris, as may be seen from the Plate, the throat and breast are of 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 Tenimwber 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 Museum :—

Adult male. General colour above leaden grey, with a slight greenish gloss ; wing-coverts like the back ;
bastard-wing slightly more dusky ashy; primary-coverts and quills dusky, externally edged with ashy grey,
rather paler on the primaries ; tail-feathers pale slaty grey, with lighter ashy margins, and barred indistinctly
with dusky under certain lights, and the outer feathers slightly tipped with fulvous; lores dull ashy; ear-
coverts leaden grey like the head; cheeks, throat, and breast deep rich orange-rufous, the abdomen, sides of
body, and under tail-coverts pale fawn-buff; thighs more ashy ; axillaries and under wing-coverts a little
deeper rufous-buff; quills dasky below, ashy along the edge of the inner web: ‘bill black; legs and feet
black ; the soles yellow; iris dark brown” (27. O. Forbes). Total length 5°5 inches, culmen 0°58, wing 2:8,
tail 2:8, tarsus 0°75.

Adult female. Very similar to the male, but rather paler, especially on the under surface of the body :
« bill lavender” (HI. O. Forbes). Total length 5 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 2:55, tail 2-4, tarsus Odo.

Another male hind collected by Mr. Forbes in Loetoer has the bill marked as lavender-coloured, like ie
female above described, which is from Larat. The bird from which the description of the adult male is
taken is also from Larat, and is the one which is figured in the Plate.

[R. B. 8.]

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