﻿322 DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW BIRDS OF WESTERN AFRICA. 



that genus (Nyctiornis). The bill is rather large, much curved and compressed, and 

 the middle tail feathers prolonged and tapering, tail rather wide and truncate. This 

 bird is easily distinguished by its black head, which color terminates abruptly on the 

 breast, and is succeeded by a band of dark chestnut, not very well denned but readily 

 observed. It is nearly as large as Nyctiornis amictus or N. Athertoni of Asia, and is 

 the largest species yet known of African Meropiclce. 



In Cabanis' Journal fiir Ornithologie for 1859, p. 433, Mr. F. Heine, a talented 

 young naturalist, son of the distinguished proprietor of the large private ornithologi- 

 cal museum of which Cabanis' Museum Heineanum is a catalogue, proposes for this 

 species the new generic name Bombylonax. It is not stated by him that he is ac- 

 quainted with either Bonaparte's Meropogon or with my M. Breweri here described, 

 and I presume that he is not with the latter, as he copies my descriptions literally. 

 His proposition is therefore scarcely to be regarded as founded on sufficient informa- 

 tion, and though possibly correct, is provisional and conjectural only. 



It is with great gratification that I name this handsome bird in honor of my tal- 

 ented and faithful friend Thomas M. Brewer, M. D., of Boston, one of the most dis- 

 tinguished of the ornithologists of the United States. Several specimens are in the 

 Museum of the Academy, all of which were purchased from Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu, 

 and were stated by him to have been obtained on the Ogobai River, Equatorial 

 Western Africa. 



2. Meropiscus Mulleri, Cassin. 



Meropiscus Mulleri, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., 1857, p. 37. 



PLATE XLIX. Fig. 2. Male. 



Rather larger than M. gularis. Bill long, curved, culmen distinct, wing moderate, 

 first quill short, fourth longest, tail moderate or. rather long, nearly truncate or slight- 

 ly rounded ; feet weak, tarsus short. 



Total length about 8 inches, wing 3|, tail 3 J inches. 



Throat with a few red feathers, probably in fully adult, bright scarlet. Head and 

 entire under parts of body fine blue, lighter and inclining to green in front and over 

 the eyes. Auricular spots black. Back and wings reddish chestnut, brighter on the 

 back and becoming brownish on the primaries. Tail above blue with the inner webs 

 of the outer feathers black and the same color on its under surface (black). Under 

 wing coverts dull rufous chestnut. Bill and feet dark colored. 



Eab. — Country on the River Muni, "Western Africa. Specimen in Mus. Acad. 

 Philada. 



One specimen only of this curious and handsome species is in collections purchased 

 for this Academy from Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu, and is stated to have been obtained at the 

 locality above given. It is a true Meropiscus, rather larger than the now well known 



