﻿DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW BIRDS OF WESTERN AFRICA. 323 



M. gularis of Western Africa, and strictly of the same generic forrr, but its colors 

 are quite different. 



This bird is named in honor of the Baron John William Von Miiller, distinguished 

 for his Zoological Researches in Africa, and a liberal contributor to the Museum of 

 this Academy. 



3. Muscipeta Duchaillui, Cassin. 



Muscipeta Duchaillui, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada., 1859, p. 48. 



PLATE L. Fig. 1, 2. Male and female. 



Resembling in form and colors Muscipeta paradisea of Asia, and also M. rnutata, 

 liolosericea and Ferreti of Africa, and about the size of the last three species. Middle 

 feathers of the tail long, others graduated, head crested, bill wide, somewhat depressed, 

 bristles at the base of both mandibles long and conspicuous, wing moderate, fifth 

 quill longest, male and female quite different in colors. 



Male, adult. Back, rump and upper tail coverts reddish chestnut, head and neck 

 shining greenish black, abdomen dark cinereous. Quills brownish black, greater 

 wing and tertiary quills widely edged with white, forming a very conspicuous longi- 

 tudinal stripe of white on the wing, under wing coverts dark ashy (same as the ab- 

 domen), middle tail feathers white, with their shafts black at base, outer tail feathers 

 brownish black, several of the longer edged with white on their inner webs. 



Female, adult. Back, rump, upper tail coverts and tail snowy white, the shafts 

 of the tail feathers for about half the length of the middle feathers and through- 

 out the others, black. Crested, head and breast shining black (as in the male), 

 abdomen and under tail coverts white, the former mixed and striped with black 

 on the flanks, quills brownish black, greater coverts and outer edges of tertiaries 

 white, under wing coverts white. Bill and feet in both sexes ashy bluish brown. 

 Young male. Upper parts white as in the female, but with longitudinal stripes of 

 black, outer tail feathers brownish black edged with white, abdomen dark ashy near- 

 ly black. 



Total length about 14 inches, wing 3£, tail 10, middle feathers exceed the others 

 by about 6 inches. 



Hab. — Camma River, Western Africa. Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philadelphia. 



In general characters and appearance this bird resembles the well known Muscipeta 

 paradisi, and like that species the male is chestnut colored on the upper parts of the 

 body and the female is snowy white. This bird has also relations to M. mutata, 

 and others of Southern and Eastern Africa, but is quite different specifically, though 

 strictly congeneric and of the same general form. It is one of the most handsome 

 species of Flycatchers yet known to inhabit Western Africa. 



Several specimens in the museum of the Academy were purchased from Mr. 



