96 j\Ir. C. F. M. Swynnertou on ihe 



136. Trochocercus megalolophus. Jihu Flycatclier. 

 (Plate 11.) 



Trochocercus megalolophus Swynnerton^ Bull. B. O. C. xix. 

 p. 109. 



Rl)., P. My first specimen of this new Flycatcher was a 

 female, trapped by means of a stone baited with a large 

 larva in Chirinda on June 2Gth. This is the only instance 

 I have met with in the high veld proper, but during my stay 

 on the Kurumadzi in August I found it to be fairly common 

 in the dense bush of the lower Jihu and secured several 

 specimens. It much resembles T. albonntatus in its general 

 liabits, making short flights after insects or from tree to tree 

 and spreading its tail as a display. Its commonest call is a 

 harsh Drongo-note (much weaker, however), repeated quickly 

 two, three, or four times, and sometimes, but rarely, winding 

 up with a pretty liquid note, rapidly repeated three or four 

 times in succession. A male which 1 found insect-hunting 

 at the base of a large tree was constantly uttering a little 

 plaintive note greatly resembling tliat of Erithacus swynner- 

 toni, for which I mistook it until I managed to locate 

 the utterer. Though they are usually very tame, another 

 male which I secured on August 8th shewed considerable 

 cunning. It was continually uttering the Drongo-note, 

 repeated twice only and without the final call, but, on seeing 

 that it was observed, immediately became silent and kept 

 flying ofl', keeping under cover the whole time with remark- 

 able cleverness till I managed at last to get a hasty shot. 

 The stomschs have always contained small flies. 



The following is a full description of this Flycatcher : — 



Adult male. Whole head, crest, throat, and chest black, 

 lieavily glossed wnth metallic greenish blue. Nape, lesser 

 wing-coverts, scapulars, back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and 

 tail ashy grey, the first two lightly glossed with metallic 

 greenish blue. In one specimen the whole of the grey 

 portions of the upper plumage, including the grey outer 

 webs of the wing- quills, is yet more lightly, though quite 

 noticeably, glossed with the same metallic shade. Lower 

 breastj abdomen, under tail-coverts, and greater portion of 



