15s [August 



4. IspiDTNA Lecontet, nolj'is. 



The smallest of the birds of the genera Ispidina and Corythornis, and with the 

 bill broailcr and more flat. Bill long, broad, flat, rather obtuse at the point; 

 wing moderate, third quill slightly longest ; tail very short ; legs short, weak. 



Dimensions. Total length (of skin) 3f inches, wing 1 8-lOths, tail 9-lOths, 

 bill i'l fiont 1, width of bill at nostrils 3-lOths inch. 



C)lr)'s. Male. Front black (without spots), crown and occiput bluish black, 

 with small spots of light blue ; back, rump and upper tail coverts light blue, 

 with a purple tinge, a narrow partially concealed collar of rufous on the neck 

 behind ; wing coverts black, with small purplish blue spots, quills bluish black, 

 edged with pale rufous on their inner webs. Tail bluish black. A small spot 

 in front of the eye ; cheeks, breast and abdomen yellowish rufous, darker on the 

 breast, throat white, under wing coverts rufous. Upper mandible brownish black, 

 point white ; under mandible at base yellow, then dark brown towards the point, 

 but at the point white ; legs yellow 



Hab. Moonda river. Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. 



This little bird may readily be distinguished from either of the species of 

 minute kingfishers of the genera Ispidina and Corytliornis, previously known by 

 its much broader and flat bill, which is long and quite as flat as in any species 

 of Todiramphus. The frontal feathers are clear, lustrous black to the base of the 

 upper mandible, unspotted. It is, moreover, the smallest of all those species. 



Of the two genera mentioned, all the known species are now in the collection 

 of this Academy, including Ispidina nitida, Kaup., and Coryihornis nais, Kaup. 

 The present is the only specimen that I have ever seen of this species, and is 

 not readily to be mistaken for any other. 



This curious little species is named in honor of my friend John L. Leconte, 

 M. D., one of the most distinguished and accomplished of American Zoologists 

 with whom I have had the great gratification of intimate and uninterrupted 

 friendship for years. 



5. Napothera castanea, nobis. 



About the size of iV. atricapilla of Sumatra, and somewhat resembles it. Bill 

 moderate, straight, rather wide at base, distinctly notched, curved abruptly 

 at tip, wing rather long, fourth quill longest. Tail moderate, ample, somewhat 

 rounded. 



Dimensions. Total length (of skin) 6| inches, wing 3 4-lOths, tail 2j inches. 



Colors. Male. Feathers of the forehead and over the eye black, each having 

 a middle longitudinal line of bright rufous. Feathers of the crown and occiput 

 at base light reddish yellow and tipped with dark rufous. Back, wing coverts 

 and rump bright reddish chestnut, darker on the rump. Lores, cheeks, sides 

 and flanks light cinereous. Throat, middle of breast and abdomen white. Under 

 tail coverts yellowish white. Bill brownish black, feet lighter. Greater wing 

 coverts with light rufous circular spots at their tips, edged with black. 



Ilab. Moonda river, "Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. 



This bird is, for all that I can see, an aberrant Hapothera, and in its general 

 appearance resembles -A^. atricapilla, coronata, and other species of Sumatra, 

 Borneo and Java. It appears to be the first species of this genus yet discovered 

 in Western Africa. 



6. Tricophorus calurus, nobis. 



General form of and resembling T. gularis, Horsfield, (not Swainson,) and T. 

 raniceps, both of Java and Borneo, and about the size of the latter, but smaller 

 than the former. Bill slightly curved; fifth quill longest. Tail rather long. 



Dimensions. Total length (of skin) about 7 inches, wing 3^, tail 3^ inches. 



Colors. Male. Throat white. Tail and its upper coverts rufous, the outer 

 feathers edged narrowly with greenish yellow; tail beneath lighter. 



Head above dark brownish ashy, cheeks lighter, each feather with a line of 

 white, a narrow ring of ashy white around the eye. Back, rump and wings 

 yellowish olive green, rather darkest on the wings. Under parts (except throat) 

 greenish Tellow, or nearly pure yellow in the middle of the breast and abdomen. 



