55. MKGAIilAS. 387 



55. MEGABIAS. r.-^, 



Megttbias, J. S,- E. Verr. Rev. et Mug. de Zool. 1865, 



p. 348 M. flammulatus. 



Myiagroides, Reicheiww, J.f. 0. 1874, p. 102 M. flammulatus. 



Bill of Megahkts jlcmimvlatu.^. 

 Range. Confined to Western Africa. 



1. Megabias flammulatus. 



Megabiae flammulata, J. ^-. £. Verr. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1855, 

 p. 348 ; Hartl. Orn. W.-Afr. p. 92 ; Shelhy and Buckley, Ibis, 1872, 

 p. 292. 



UegaUashicolor, Elliot, Ibis, 1859, p. 394 ; Jfartl. J.f. 0. 1861, p. 168; 

 Reicken. J.f. 0. 1875, p. 25. 



Smithornis tricolor (lajisu), Gi-ag, Hatid-l. B. i. p. 324, no. 4868. 



Myiagroides conspicuus, Reichen. J. f. O. 1874, p. 102. 



Adult male. Above glossy greenish black, darker on the head, with 

 a steel-blue gloss ; wings black, margined with glossy green on the 

 edges of all the coverts and quills ; rump and upper tail-coverts pure 

 white, the feathers dusky at base ; longer upper tail-coverts and 

 tail-feathers black, glossed with green on the edges of the feathers ; 

 nasal plumes, lores, feathers round the eye, and ear-coverts steel- 

 black ; cheeks and entire under surface of body pure white ; under 

 wing-coverts black, edged with greenish; "bill black; feet violet; 

 iris dark reddish brown" {Reichenoiv) ; "iris red; tarsi and feet 

 pink" (Shelhy and Biiclhy). Total length 6"1 inches, culmen 0-8, 

 wing 3-45, tail 2-55, tarsus 0'6. 



Adult female (type of species). General colour above bright chest- 

 nut, the riimp somewhat mottled with subterminal white markings, 

 the bases of all the feathers dusky ; head and nape ashy brown ; 

 wing-coverts chestnut, the least series browner ; quills dark brown, 

 externally edged with chestnut, broader on the secondaries, the 

 innennost of which are almost entirely of the latter colour, with 

 dark-brown centres ; tail uniform chestnut ; ear-covei-ts ashy brown, 

 with distinct white shaft-streaks ; cheeks and under surface of body- 

 white, mottled all over with dusky-brown edges to the feathers, 

 producing a striped appearance ; vent and under tail-coverts light 

 tawny ; thighs whitish, washed with tawny ; under wing-coverts 

 and axillaries deep chestnut ; lower surface of quills brown, narrowly 

 edged with rufous along the inner web. Total lengtli 7'2 inches, 

 culmen 0"7o, wing 3-55, tail 2'6, tarsus 0'65. 



Hab. West Africa : Gaboon to the Gold Coast. 



