252 BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA. 



of vast acumen and research, and whose philosophical labours 

 are well known to all naturalists. 



The specimen described was killed on the north coast of 

 Australia. 



Small spot on the chin, crown of the head, lores, line be- 

 neath the eye, ear- coverts, broad crescentic band across the 

 back, xmd a broad band across the breast, deep shining bluish 

 black ; wings and tail brownish black ; throat and a broad 

 band across the back of the neck white ; lower part of the 

 back and abdomen white, the base of the feathers black, which 

 occasionally showing through give those parts a mottled ap- 

 pearance ; bill bluish horn-colour, becoming lighter at the 

 tip ; feet black. 



Total length 6^ inches ; bill ^ ; wing 5|- ; tail 3 J ; tarsi 



Genus MYIAGRA, Vig. and Horsf. 



A group of insectivorous birds, the greater number of 

 which inhabit the Indian Islands and Polynesia, and of 

 which four species are found in Australia. 



Sp. 144. MYIAGRA PLUMBEA, %. and Horsf . 



Leaden-coloured Flycatcher. 

 Myiagra plumbea, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol, xv. p. 254. 



Myiagra plumbea, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii. pi. 89. 



A summer visitant to New South Wales, where it takes up 

 its abode on high trees bordering creeks and low valleys, 

 and captures its insect food under the shady branches, the 

 Myiagra plumbea is mostly seen in pairs, which are rather 

 thinly dispersed over the districts forming its usual place of 

 resort. A low whistling note, frequently uttered by the 

 males, is, in all probability, indicative of the season of love. 

 On the approach of winter it retires northwards, and returns 



