130 



BLACK FANTAIL. 



Leucocirca latkauda^ SWAINS. 

 PLATE XI. 



Plumage above, and half way down the throat, deep black ; 

 stripe over the eye, spots on the wing-covers, and under 

 plumage white ; quills brown. 



THIS species, remarkable for its broad and perfectly 

 black tail, makes a very near approach to the Rhi- 

 pidura motacilloides* ; but it cannot possibly be the 

 same, for the length of the wing, in that species, is 

 stated to be only three inches and one-fifth, where- 

 as the wing of this measures almost four inches. 

 Neither has this any appearance of an interrupted 

 pectoral band of black, while the wnite spots, on 

 the wing-covers, seen in our present species, are not 

 noticed in the account given of the other. 



Although this species does not exhibit the cha- 

 racter so prevalent in this sub -genus of a white 

 tipped tail, it nevertheless possesses all the others, 

 namely, a bill of ordinary length, stout legs, and 

 broad tail-feathers. I possess two specimens ; but 

 having purchased them with other birds, I know 

 * Horef. & Vigors. Linn. Tr. xv. 248. 



