RHIPIDU RA FUSCO-RU FA, Sclater.

‘Timor-Laut Fantail Flycatcher.

Rhipidura fusco-rufa, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1883, p. 197, pl. xxvii.

 

Turis Flycatcher appears to us, after a comparison with the “ Keys to the species” of Rhipidura given in
the British-Museum ‘ Catalogue of Birds,’ and in Count Salvadori’s ‘Ornitologia della Papuasia,’ to belong to
a totally new section of the genus. Its rufous outer tail-feathers and a peculiar distribution of rafous and brown
coloration about the bird render it quite distinct from any other known species. In the character of the tail it
approaches somewhat the female of R. brachyrhyncha, Schlegel, from New Guinea; but there the resemblance
ends, as the coloration of the rest of the plumage is totally different. Mr. Forbes sent a large series of this
species from Larat, Moloe, and Loetoe; and it would appear to be common in the Tenimber Islands which
he visited.

The following is a description of the type specimen :—

Adult male. General colour above dull chocolate-brown, the head and hind neck duller and more sooty
brown; wing-coverts dusky brown, the least and median series tipped and the greater series edged with pale
ferruginous ;_ bastard wing, primary-coverts, and quills dusky black; the secondaries edged with pale
ferruginous, more broadly on the inner ones ; the four centre tail-feathers entirely dusky blackish, the next
pair blackish, excepting for a shade of pale ferruginous towards the end of the feather, the three outermost
entirely pale ferruginous with yellowish-white shafts ; sides of face, lores, and ear-coverts dusky blackish ;
the fore part of the cheeks white, and a half-concealed white spot above the eye; throat and fore neck white,
the sides of the latter ashy streaked with white; remainder of the under surface very pale ferruginous,
deepening in tint on the thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts; under wing-coverts and axillaries richer
ferruginous; quills dusky below, ashy rufous along the edge of the inner webs ; “ bill, legs, and feet sles ;
iris dark brown” (JZ. O. Forbes). Total length 6:75 inches, culmen 0°79, wing 3:6, tail 3°5, tarsus 0°75.

The Plate represents an adult male of this species, in two positions, of the natural size.

[R. B. S.J