Birds of Gazaland. 97 



flanks white. A varying number of feathers (3 to 6) in the 

 greater wing-coverts are entirely white, forming a con- 

 spicuous alar patch, which is, however, smaller than in 

 Trochocercus cyanomelas. Somewhat broad edgings to the 

 remaining feathers of the median and upper coverts result 

 in two parallel white lines carried forward towards the edge 

 of the wing. Quills dusky, the outer webs edged with grey, 

 which in the inner secondaries occupies the whole of the 

 outer web ; in most of the quills the basal half of the inner 

 web is also edged with light grey. Secondaries very 

 narrowly tipped, really noticeably only in the two or three 

 inner feathers, with dull white or light grey, in one specimen 

 only on the outer w eb. Under surface of the quills, both of 

 wing and tail, grey. Under wing-coverts white, the bases 

 and inner webs of a few of the plumes grey. Edge of wing- 

 either grey or mottled grey and white. Total length (of 

 skin) of type specimen 5*8 inches ; culraen in each of four 

 males exactly 0*6; wing 265, 2'67, 2'77, and 2*75 (type) 

 respectively ; tail respectively 2*76, 2'85 (type), 2*9, and 

 '6 1 ; tarsus in type 0*85, but in two others 0'63 and in the 

 fourth 0'65. 



Adult female. Differs from the male in its shorter crest 

 (1*2 inches), which is grey like the back and but slightly 

 washed with a steely metallic gloss ; in the browner colour 

 of the quills, particularly those of the wing ; and in the 

 almost total absence of the white alar patch. Throat and 

 chest whitish with grey margins to the feathers, giving the 

 whole a mottled appearance. No whitish tips to the second- 

 aries. Culmen 0-6 inch, wing 2*55, tail 2*6, tarsus 0*77. 



Eight of these birds (measured in the flesh) averaged 

 G-2 inches in length, varying from o-7 to 6"6. 



Bill light bluish, the forward part of the upper mandible 

 black; feet blue-grey, with a distinct cobalt tinge; irides 

 dark brown. In the female the upper mandible is black 

 with only the extreme base blue, the lower grey-blue with a 

 black tip. 



This Flycatcher appears to be most nearly allied to 

 T. cyanomelas, from which, however, it diff'ers in its far 



SER. IX. — VOL. II. H 



