15. MKL.EXOHNrS. ^lO 



15. MELfflNORNIS. ,jype_ 



Mclasomca, Swains. B. W. Afr. i. p. 257 (1837, nee La- 



fresn.) ! M. edolioides. 



Melaenornis, Grai/. List Gen. li. ISJ-O, p. 3(5 M. edolioides. 



Wing of Mclanor-nis edolioides. 

 Ranije. Couliued to Africa. 



1. Melsenornis edolioides. 



Melasoma edolioides, Sumins. B. W. Afr. i. p. 257, pi. 29 ; Allen ^• 



Thorns. Exp. Niger, ii. p. 42. 

 Melteuomis edolioides, Gray, List Gen. B. 1840, p. 3G ; id. Gen. B. 



i. p. 288 ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 350 ; Cah. 3Lts. Tlcin. Th. i. p. 54 ; 



Heuql. Sijst. Ucbers. p. 32 ; Hartl. Orn. W.-Afr. p. 102 ; id. J. f. 



O. 18G1, p. 70; Gray,Hand-l. B. i. p. 288; HeiKjl. Orn. N.6.- 



Afr. p. 427 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 28. 

 Argya edolioides, Lafresn. in D'Orb. Diet, d'llist. Kat. ii. p. 12G. 

 Muscicapa lugiibris, Vo7i 3Iiil/er, Beitr. Orn. Afr. Taf. ii. 

 MelsBnornis melas, Ileiujl. Si/st. Uehers. p. 32. 

 Melasoma nigerrima, Pr. Wilrt. Naum. 1857, p. 433 ; Hcugl. J. f. O. 



1807, p. 290. 

 Melauopepla lugubris, Hartl. J.f. O. 1859, p. 323. 

 Melfeiiornis iutermedia, Hettgl. J. f. O. 18G2, p. 303. 



Adult male. General colour glossy black above, with somewhat 

 of an ashy lustre ; quills and tail black, glossy on the edges of the 

 feathers ; under surface of body rather more ashy black than the 

 upper, the quills clearer ash-colour towards the bases of the inner 

 webs ; " bill and feet black ; iris brown, in some yellow " (Heur/Jin). 



Total length 7'5 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 3'7. tail 4, tarsus 9. 



Adult female. Greyer and somewhat smaller (Harihtub). 



Obs. This species has probably a llobin-like young plumage, as a 

 specimen in the Museum still preseiwes remains of fulvous tips to 

 the wing-covcrts. 



Ilab. Western and iN'orth-eastern Africa. 



a. Ad. st. West Africa. 



6, c. Ad. sk. Iviver Gambia. Purchased. 



--/. Ad. sk. River Gambia. Tec. 24, 1804. ]{. B. Sliarpe, Esq. 



r. .\d. sk. -Vccra (J. Smith). R. B Shpipe, Esq. 



