294 MUSCICAPIDJE. 



velvety black ; uppei" tail-coverts deep blue, tipped with black ; tail- 

 feathers deep blue, tipped with white, increasing in extent towards 

 the outermost, which has the outer web also white ; wings brown, 

 the least series of coverts edged with blue-black, the inner median 

 and greater covei'ts, as well as the secondaries, edged with rufous ; 

 leathers in front of the eye black, forming a triangular patch ; 

 cheeks, throat, and breast also velvety blue-black ; rest of under 

 surface white, slightly tinged with buff on the Hanks ; under wing- 

 coverts and axillaries light fulvous ; quills brown below, fulvesceut 

 along the edge of the inner web ; " bill black ; iris and feet dark 

 brown" {Gould). Total length 4-5 inches, culmen 0-45, wing 1-9, 

 tail 2-4, tarsus 0'85. 



Adult female. General colour above deep blue, rather brighter 

 over the eye ; scapulars ashy brown, shghtly washed with blue ; 

 wings brown, the least and median coverts with an almost imper- 

 ceptible wash of blue ; plumes of the bastard wing slightly tipped 

 with white, the inner greater coverts edged with light brown, the 

 secondaries with whity brown, the innermost tipped with white ; 

 tail deep blue, tipped broadly with white, increasing on the outer 

 feathers, which are also edged with white externally, the last 

 feather being whoUy white along the outer web ; feathers in front 

 of the eye and a ring round the latter whitish ; ear-coverts cobalt, 

 brighter than the head ; cheeks and entire under surface of body 

 white, washed with fulvous on the breast and sides of the body ; 

 thighs blackish, tipped with white ; under wing-coverts fulvous ; 

 quills brown below, fulvous along the edge of the inner web. Total 

 length 4-9 inches, culmen 0-45, wing 1-9, tail 2-4, tarsus 0-85. 



Hub. Cape- York peninsula, extending as far south as Kockingham 

 Bay ; Gulf of Carpentaria. 



a. d" ; 6, c. 5 ad. sk. Cape York. J. Gould, Esq. 



d, e. d 2 ^^- sk. Cape York. Purchased. 



f. (S ad. sk. Port Albany. Purchased. 



11. Malurus pulcherrimus. 



Malurus pulcherrinms, Gould, P. Z. S. 1844, p. 106 ; id. B. Austr. 



foho, iii. pi. 23 : Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 05 ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 218 ; 



lleic/ienb. Viii/. Neuholl. pp. 79, 291 ; Gmdd, Handb. B. Austr. i. 



p. 327 ; Ramxati, Pr. Limi. Sac. N. S. W. ii. p. 184. 

 Malurus cajruleicapiUus, " Gotdd'' (ubi?); Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 204, 



no. 2883. 



Adult male. Crown of head and nape rich purjilish blue, the sides 

 of the hinder crown, sides of neck, and a collar round the latter 

 velvety black, separating the crown from the back, which is pui-plish 

 blue, slightly more lilac than the head, but almost of the same tint 

 as the latter ; lower back and rump deep blue-black ; upper tail- 

 coverts and tail-feathers dull blue, the latter tipped with white, 

 which increases in extent towards the outermost, which is also 

 •slightly edged with hoary white ; wings light brown, with paler 

 edges to the quills, the primaries edged narrowly with whity brown. 



