PIEZORIIYNCHUS. 141 



oen-o-s :E=iEZOisi3:"2"isro£3:T:js. <;oidd. 

 Piezorhynchus nitidus. 



GLUSSY FLYCATCHER. 

 Piezorhynclms nitidus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1840, p. 171; id., Bds. Austr., fol., Vol. II., pi. 88 

 (1848); id., Handbk. Bds. Au.sti-., Vol. I., p. 249 (1865); Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., 

 Vol. IV., p. 41G (1879). 



Monarcha tiitidus, Salvad., Orn. Pap. et Molucc, Pt. II., p. 35 (1881); Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc, 

 1883, pp. 51, 58. 



Adult male — General colour above and below glossy yreenish-black ; primaries, secondaries, 

 and tail feathers black, margiued externally with glossy greenish-black : bill bluish-black : legs black : 

 iris reddish-brown. Total length 7 inches, wing 3 5, tail 3'3, bill 55, tarsus 0'S5. 



Adult female — Crown, sides of the head, and hind neck, glossy greenish-black ; remainder 

 of the upper surj'ace rich chestnut, the mantle slightly tvashed ?vith greenish-black; tail feathers rich 

 chestnut; upper iring-cover/s like the back, irit/i a greenish-black wash on the lesser and median 

 series, and tvhich is more distinct on the outermost greater coverts, arid tlie lips of the primary 

 coverts ; innermost secondaries like the back .- the remainder and the primaries dark brown, broadly 

 margined witli. rich chestnut on their outer tvebs ; cheeks, sides of the neck, all the under surface and 

 under tail-coverts irhite. Total length 6 5 inches, wing S'2, tail 3, bill O'oS, tarsus 85. 



Distribution. — Northern Territory of South Australia, Northern and North-eastern Queens- 

 land, Aru Islands, Timor Laut or Tenimber Group of Islands. 



/Tij^HE Glossy Flycatcher inhabits the mangrove flats of rivers, and the thick brushes in 

 -L the vicinity of creeks in the coastal districts of the northern and north-eastern portions 

 of the continent. The late IMr. Edward Spalding found it plentiful in the mangroves at Port 

 Darwin ; and Mr. A. Morton obtained adults and semi-adults of both sexes at Port Essington in 

 February, 1879. On the north-eastern coast, from Cape York as far south as the Herbert River, 

 it has been obtained by numerous collectors. Mr. J. A. Thorpe procured many specimens at 

 Somerset in 1867-8; and the members of the "Chevert" Expedition found it plentifully distributed 

 throughout the mangroves in the same locality in 1875. Mr. Frank Hislop informs me it is 

 common along the banks of creeks in the Bloomfield River District, and that he has never 

 seen it further than one hundred yards away from water. ^lessrs. Cairn and Grant procured 

 specimens near the margins of fresh-water creeks at Cairns. Mr. J. A. Boyd informs me it is 

 freely distributed in the vicinity of either the fresh or salt-water creeks in the Herbert River 

 District; and there is an adult male in the collection obtained by Mr. George Masters in 1867 

 as far south as Port Denison. Gould states, in his original description, that the type was 

 procured by ^Ir. E. Dring, Surgeon of " H.M.S. Beagle," on the north-western coast of Australia. 

 It is also found in the Aru Islands; and Dr. Sclater has recorded it from Larat. in the Timor 

 Laut or Tenimber group of islands. 



Mr. Bertie L. Jardine writes me as follows: — " Piesorhynckiis nitidus is found throughout 

 the year on the Cape York Peninsula and the islands of Torres Strait. It chiefly inhabits 

 the dense and dark portions of mangrove flats that border the inlets and bays. Owing to 

 the depth of mud, interlacing network of roots, innumerable sandflies and mosquitoes, the 

 habits of this species are generally difficult to observe. Usually these birds are met with in 

 pairs, hopping or flying about the lower branches and roots of the mangroves, and the rapidity 

 with which they work their way among the latter is marvellous. Occasionally they may be 

 seen inland in the tea-tree scrub bordering the margins of fresh-water swamps and lagoons. 

 They are wonderfully quick and active, and live chiefly on insects which are often secured in a 

 similar manner to a lizard stalking a fly, remaining motionless for a time and then suddenly 

 darting forth and seizing their prey." 



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