238 BLACK-BILLED GAPER. 



the general form and appearance of this latter bird is 

 so much more like to Eurylaimus than to the rest of 

 the Flycatchers, that we are tempted to helieye it 

 is their representative in the New World. Whe- 

 ther a better acquaintance with the natural eco- 

 nomy of the two may strengthen or annul this opi- 

 nion, must at present remain uncertain ; but the 

 experienced ornithologist cannot fail to remark the 

 near approach of the Eurylaimince^ in general, to 

 the American bird, which, in our estimation, is as 

 nearly connected, on the one hand, to this group, 

 as it is, on the other, to Psaris. In this manner 

 do we consider that the great circle of the entire 

 family of Muscicapidce is closed, and returns into 

 itself. 



Our specific character, aided by the annexed 

 figure, precludes the necessity of a lengthened de- 

 scription. The pure white upon the scapulars 

 forms a long, slender, and well defined stripe, the 

 feathers themselves being lanceolate ; with this ex- 

 ception, and the crimson rump and tail- covers, all 

 the upper plumage is a deep black, glossed with 

 obscure green ; the wings, tail, chin, and band 

 just above the breast, are likewise of this colour ; 

 the latter patches of black leaves a transverse band 

 of dark crimson on the throat, which also covers 

 the ears, and the whole of the under plumage, 

 from the breast downwards ; the edge of the 

 shoulders, or carpus, is orange ; the three shortest 

 tail-feathers have an oblong white spot, placed 

 obliquely, near the tip of the inner webs ; the bill 



