450 BIRDS OF INDIA 



The following species has been separated from Mijiagra {^Ilypo- 

 thymis, Boie*), but I shall only indicate, without adopting it. It 

 appears to have a narrower bill than some of the Australian 

 Mi/iagrcB, l/ut is evidently only a slightly aberrant species. 



290. Myiagra asurea, Bodd. 



Muscicapa apud Boddaert — PI. Enl. 666, f. 1 — Blyth, Cat. 

 1231 — HoRSF., Cat. 178 — M. ccerulea apud Jerdon, Cat. 148 — 

 M. cffiruleo-cephala, Sykes, Cat. 43 (the female) — M. occipitalis, 

 Vigors — Kala kafkaiia, Beng. 



The Black-naped Blue FLycATCiiER. 



Descr. — Above pale lazuline blue, with the head and neck paler 

 but brighter blue ; a large occipital spot of short erectile feathers, 

 and a slender jugular one, silky black; throat, neck, and breast, 

 pale blue ; abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts, bluish-white. 



The female is bluish-ashy above ; the head and neck pale blue, 

 and the abdomen white ; and it has neither the occipital crestlet nor 

 jugular black streak. 



The bill and legs fine delicate cobalt-blue ; legs bluish-plumbe- 

 ous ; irides deep brown. 



Length 6 to 6^ inches ; wing 2| ; extent 8 ; tail 2| ; bill at 

 front about y*^ ; tarsus |-. 



This pretty Blue Flycatcher is widely spread through India 

 and Ceylon, extending to Assam, Burmah, Malayana, and even 

 to China and some of tlae more distant islands. Here it is 

 generally to be met with in every well-wooded part of the coun- 

 try, and in forest, or bamboo-jungle, ascending to an elevation of 

 3,000 ft. on the slopes of the Neilgherry and other mountain 

 ranges. In Central and Northern India it is often to be seen in 

 very open country, frequenting clumps of trees, or single trees 

 near villages. It is almost always solitary, flying from tree to 

 tree, remaining a short time on each, capturing a few insects on 

 the wins. Now and then I have seen it flitting activelv about 

 among the branches, and spreading its tail just like the Fantails 

 (Leucocerca). Mr. Ward procured the nest at Honore in a 



* This name has been applied erroneously to the species of Eumyias. 



