20 MUSCICAPIDJE. 



Distribution. Nepal and Sikhim ; the plains of Bengal, whence I 

 have seen specimens collected by Brooks at Mudhupur and 

 Assensole on the E.I. Bail way in winter ; the Khasi hills, where 

 this species is a constant resident and breeds ; probably Manipur, 

 where Hume procured a specimen which he doubtfully refers to 

 this species, but which specimen I have not been able to discover 

 in his collection ; Karennee, where Wardlaw Bamsay obtained two 

 specimens. 



571. Cyornis sapphira. The Sapphire-headed Flycatcher. 



Muscieapula sapphira, TicMl, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xii, p. 939 (1843) ; 



Jerd. III. Ind. Orn. pi. 32 ; Blyth, Cat. p. 173 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. 



i, p. 295 ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 471 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iv. p. 203 j 



Anders. Yunnan Exped., Aoes, p. 619 ; Hume, Cat. no. 312. 

 Siphia superciliaris P, apud Godw.-Aust. J. A. S. B. xlv, pt. ii, 



p. 201. 



Coloration. Male. Forehead, crown, nape, and upper tail-coverts 

 bright ultramarine-blue ; lores and a band from the eyes to the 

 nostrils black ; sides of the head and neck, upper breast, back, rump, 

 and visible portions of wing-coverts deep purplish blue; quills 

 black, narrowly edged with blue ; tail black, the outer webs suffused 

 with bright blue; chin, throat, and upper breast chestnut; remainder 

 of lower plumage pale bluish white ; under wing-coverts and axil- 

 laries white. 



Female. Upper plumage olive-brown tinged with rufous ; the 

 upper tail-coverts ferruginous ; wing-coverts and quills dark brown, 

 edged with rufous ; forehead and sides of the head bright fulvous- 

 brown, with 'a ring of fulvous round the eye; chin, throat, and 

 breast pale orange-chestnut ; remainder of lower plumage whitish, 

 the flanks and sides of the body tinged with fulvous ; under wing- 

 coverts and axillaries white. 



The female of this species, with its red throat and breast, cannot 

 be confounded with the females of O. super ciliaris^ C. melanoleucm, 

 or C. astigma. 



The nestling is densely spotted above and on the coverts with 

 fulvous, and mottled with brown below. 



At the autumn moult young males assume the plumage of the 

 female, but have the wings, tail, rump, and upper tail-coverts like 

 the adult male. 



Bill black ; legs ashy brown; iris brown (Cockburn'). 



Length 4-5 ; tail 1-8 ; wing 2-3 ; tarsus -6 ; bill from gape -55. 



Distribution. A permanent resident in Sikhim, probably extending 

 into Nepal ; found also in the Graro and Naga hills, and in the hills 

 to the east of Bhamo. 



572. Cyornis oatesi. The Rufous-bellied Blue Flycatcher. 



Cyornis vivida, Swinh. apud Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi. p. 229 ; Hume 

 Cat. no. 309 bis; id. S. F. xi, p. 111. 



