PIED FLY-CATCHER. 209 



We consider it not improbable that the M. albicollis will, 

 sooner or later, be met with in Britain, as, according to 

 Temminck, that species is the most common in France. 

 The present distinction given may enable our fellow coun- 

 trymen to judge, at a glance, to which any specimen belongs. 

 When the wings of the M. Luctuosa, or Pied Fly-catcher, 

 are closed, they cover about one-third of the tail ; but in 

 the M. albicollis the wings, when closed, cover two-thirds 

 of it. 



The entire length of the Pied Fly-catcher is five inches 

 and a half, and about nine inches and a half in expanse. 

 The beak measures four lines and a half, is broad at the 

 base, and slightly arched towards the tip ; the nostrils are 

 round, open, and covered with bristling feathers ; and the 

 corners of the mouth are fringed with strong black bristles. 

 The iris is dusky, or dark-brown. The legs are slender and 

 black in old birds, in young ones brownish slate-coloured. 

 The tarsus measures eight lines, the middle toe, including 

 the nail, seven lines and a half; the hinder toe and claw 

 five and a half. 



The adult male, in spring plumage, is as follows : — On the 

 forehead are two connected round white spots, and all the 

 under parts, from the chin to the under tail-coverts inclu- 

 sive, are pure white ; the top of the head, cheeks, back, 

 shoulders, and upper tail-coverts are jet black ; the nape of 

 the neck, and rump, greyish-black ; the lesser wing-coverts 

 and primary quill-feathers are dusky ; the latter quill-fea- 

 thers, as also the secondaries, have a little white towards 

 their roots, which are nevertheless entirely covered by the 

 wing-coverts. On the first of the tertials this white extends 

 further, and the three latter are entirely white, with a black 

 spot on their tips, which is only partially on the inner webs. 

 Directly above these feathers, namely, the tertials, the larger 

 wing-coverts, have one web of their tips white, which, toge- 



