99 



CRESTED BLACK WATER-CHAT. ', 



Blechropus cristatus, SWAINS. 



PLATE VII. 



Entirely black, with a large spot of white on the base of the 

 inner web of the primary quills ; head with a conspicuous 

 crest of slender lengthened feathers. 



Musicapa comata, Lick, in leteris. 



THE bird we have here selected as an example of 

 the genus Bleckropus, will serve to show in what 

 respect this group differs from that of Fluvicolina, 

 although we candidly confess we do not as yet 

 sufficiently understand the typical characters, or 

 are we prepared to say whether this is a typical or 

 an aberrant species. It is clear, however, from 

 the strength and length of the legs, that it belongs 

 to the Water-chats, and not to the Tyrants, while 

 it differs so much from the typical examples of all 

 those genera which compose the Fluvicolince, that 

 we can only choose between viewing it as an aber- 

 rant species of Fluvicola, or separating it as a sub- 

 genus. I have adopted the latter view, at least for 

 the present ; and until we know more of those birds, 

 called by Azara Pepoaxas, and of certain others, 



