RHIPIDURA COCKERELLLI.

Cockerell’s Fantail Flycatcher.

Sauloprocta cockerelli, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, iv. p. 81 (1879).—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic.
Genova, xiv. p. 508.—Id. Ibis, 1880, p. 129.—Id. Orn. Papuasia, ete. ii. p. 53 (1881).—Id. op. cit. iii.,
App. p. 531 (1882).

Rhipidura cockereli, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, vi. p. 181 (1881).—Tristr. Ibis, 1882, p. 142.
—Ramsay, Ibis, 1882, p. 473.

 

Tus species was described by Mr. Ramsay from a specimen obtained in Guadalcanar, in the Solomon group,
by Mr. Cockerell. In the absence of specimens Count Salvadori was inclined to think that it might be the
same species as 72. ¢r?co/or, au identification which was rather warmly resented by Mr. Ramsay, who certainly
might be supposed to know thoroughly so familiar a species as 2. tricolor of Australia. On examining the
type specimen, which Mr. Ramsay has kindly lent to us, we find that it is not of the Sauloprocta type at all,
but is, as Count Salvadori has more recently suggested, a true Rhipidura as regards coloration. As,
however, we cannot admit that Sauloprocta is generically distinct from RAipidura, it follows that its position
in the latter genus would be between R&R. perlata and R. tricolor, in the same black-throated section as the
last-named bird. It may, however, be distinguished by its smaller size, by the ovate drops of white on the
fore neck and chest, and by the broad white margins to the imner secondaries.

The following description is taken from the type specimen lent to us by Mr. Ramsay :—

Adult male (type of species). General colour above brownish black, the long feathers of the rump tipped
with white and forming a tolerably complete band ; lesser wing-coverts like the back ; median and greater
coverts blackish brown, narrowly edged with black, the latter with a small spot of white at the ends; bastard
wing, primary-coverts, and quills blackish brown, the inner secondaries broadly margined with white,
extending round the ends of the innermost ; upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers blackish brown ; head black,
deeper than the back; over the eye a spot of silvery white ; cheeks, throat, and chest black, the cheeks
slightly varied with a few white tips to the feathers, the lower throat, fore neck, and chest variegated with
large ovate subterminal drops of white on each feather ; breast, abdomen, and under ean oorrerrts white, with
a few blackish edgings to the breast-feathers ; thighs black ; axillaries blackish brown tipped with white ;
under wing-coverts black, with white spots at the ends of the feathers ; quills dusky blackish below, browner
along the edge of the inner web. Total length 6-3 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 3:35, tail 3:4, ae 0:6.

The Plate represents the adult male in two positions, drawn from the typical example. The figures are
of the natural size.

[R. B. S.J

 

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