102 



The rufous colouring of tlie plumnge remiiuls us of Tchitrea, Less. 

 {Mnscipeta, Auct.), but the beak is much shorter and raore trian- 

 gular than in that genus. In its general structure and proportions 

 this bird appears to approach the restricted genus Mascicapa more 

 closely than any othcr group. The form of the beak is almost ex- 

 actly that of the Muscicapa latirostris, Sw., of India, and the legs 

 are much shorter than is usual in terrestrial birds. Notwithstanding 

 these characters, Mr. Fraser's notes statė that this bird " feeds on the 

 ground ; has the motions and plump appearance of a robin." He 

 adds that the irides are hazel, and that it is a beautiful songster. 



The beak is strong, depressed, very broad, the sides straight when 

 viewedfrom above, and the base furnished with bristles of moderate 

 length. The first quill is subspurious, 1 inch long ; the second is half 

 an inch shorter than the third ; the fourth is the longest. Tarsi 

 short, acrotarsia and paratarsia entire ; outer toe slightly longer than 

 the inner one, its first phalanx attached to the middle toe ; claws 

 curved, comjiressed, sharp ; tail rounded. The malė and female are 

 alike, except that in the specimen before me of the female the narrow 

 rufous tip of the medial rectrices is \vanting, and the dimensions are 

 rather less than in the malė. 



Totai length 7į inches ; beak to gape 9 lines, to front 6 lines, 

 height 2į lines, breadth at gajie 6 lines ; Mung 3 inches 1 lines ; 

 medial rectrices Z\ inches, external 3 inches 1 line ; tarsus 10 lines, 

 middle toe and claw 9 lines, hind ditto 7 lines. 



Hab. Fernando Po. 



I dedicate this species to Mr. Louis Fraser, naturalist to the Niger 

 expedition, who succeeded in bringing home many interesting addi- 

 tions to zoological science, notvvithstanding the difficulties and dan- 

 gers by which he \vas surrounded. 



Laniid^, Laniin^. 



Tephrodornis ocreatus, Strickl. T. capite suprci genisąue fusco- 

 atris, dorso toto alisque obscure fusco-plumbeis , reinigibus rectri- 

 cibusque fusco-atrls, extus plutnbeo Umbatis, corpore toto infemo 

 albo, gutturis pectorisgue plumis cinej-co st riete marginai is, alarum 

 tectricibus infernis cinereis albo marginatis. Rostrum pedesgue 

 atri, acrotarsiis integris. 

 This bird approaches siifficiently near to the Indian genus Tephro- 

 dornis to be classed vvith it, the only important structural difFerences 

 being that the acrotarsia are entire and that the tail is slightly rounded. 

 The beak resembles that of T. Indica (Gray), but is a trifle shorter; 

 the nostrils are concealed by incumbent bristly feathers ; the fourth, 

 fifth and sixth ąuills are nearly eąual, the first three graduated, and 

 the outer toe longer than the inner. 



Totai length 6| inches ; beak to gape 1 1 lines, to front 7 lines, 

 breadth 3 lines, height 2^ lines ; ■wing 3 inches 7 lines ; medial rec- 

 trices 3 inclies, external 2 inches 8 lines ; tarsus 10 lines, middle toe 

 9 lines, hind ditto 7 lines. 



Hab. Fernando Po ; June. " Irides hazel, legs blue." 



