Ceblepj/ris tricolor. 467 



Ceblepyris tricolor. 



C. niiide niger^ albus infra ; crisso tegminibusqiie superioribus 

 dnereis ; tectricibus rectridumque apicibus albis. 



Glossy black, beneath white ; rump and upper tail coverts cine- 

 reous ; wing coverts and tips of the tail feathers white. 



This is by far the smallest species of this group I have hitherto 

 seen. It is likewise interesting, as it differs in several respects 

 from the other Ceblepyrince. The bill is more slender, and its 

 sides more compressed ; the nostrils, instead of being completely 

 covered by the frontal feathers, are partially exposed ; and form 

 an angular sulcation covered by the membrane. The tarsi are 

 somewhat lengthened ; and the wings longer, more pointed, and 

 obviously adapted for a superior flight ; the first qnill being very 

 short, while the second is scarcely shorter than the third, and de- 

 cidedly longer than the fourth. How far these deviations may be 

 relied upon as affording sectional characters, I am at present not 

 prepared to state ; yet I cannot help thinking they point out a 

 strong relationship to the Musdcapidce. 



Size rather larger than a Lark. The upper plumage, from the 

 head to the middle of the back, is deep black, glossed with a 

 metallic lustre of dull greenish blue ; the lower part of the back, 

 as well as the rump and upper tail coverts, are pale cinereous; the 

 spiny shafts of the feathers in these parts are very weak, yet 

 sufficiently strong to show the natural situation of the bird. The 

 under plumage, (including the sides of the neck and ear feathers,) 

 is pure white. The whole of the lesser, and part of the greater 

 wing coverts, are also white ; so also are the margins of the 

 scapulars, and part of the greater quills. Tail black and rather 

 lengthened, the two outer feathers graduated, the rest nearly of 

 equal length, and all of them tipt with white. The lateral scales 

 of the tarsi, as in all the Ceblepyrince^ are entire. 



Length of the wings 6 inches, bill |^ from the gape. Tail 

 nearly 3 inches, (one half being hid by the upper coverts,) tarsi |, 



In the collection of Mr. Brogden. There is also in Mr. 

 Vigors's possession a species closely allied to this, but supposed 

 to have come from Java. 



