196 The American Naturalist. [March, 



lines of unequal width are plainly drawn. The under parts 

 are in general buff varied with black and gray. Dots and 

 bars of white appear on the wings and tail. Its total length 

 is about six inches. 



Rhipidura leucothorax, the Whitebreasted Fantailed Fly- 

 catcher, is much more widely distributed, being met with in 

 different parts of New Guinea. The descriptive name here de- 

 scribes very imperfectly, for the breast is by no means entirely 

 white as might be inferred ; black is almost as prominent, al- 

 ternating with the white which shows in spaces, though lower 

 down it crowds the black into narrow bands or crescents. The 

 general color of the bird above is brown, becoming dark upon the 

 head, still darker over the bill. The wings are black, finished 

 off with white spots. This is the appearance too of the tail 

 feathers as well as of the under side of the wings. There are 

 also white streaks and lines about the sides of the head and 

 throat. Bill black above. Length 8 inches. 



The family of Wood Songsters (Pcecilodryas) are all small 

 birds rarely exceeding 6.5 inches in total length. The colora- 

 tion is in general black and white, the former greatly predom- 

 inating. Pcecilodryas albinotata at first sight looks in color not 

 unlike those fine drongos, the Edolias. In this instance, how- 

 ever, leaving the disparity of size out of account, the gray is 

 not nearly so uniform, a dull black and a deep black appear- 

 ing on the wings, tail and throat including the side face. A 

 patch of white meets the black on the sides of the neck. 

 White again is seen on the abdomen and under tail coverts, 

 becoming discolored along the flanks and sides of the body. 



Pcecilodryas papuana comes from the same region of the 

 Arfak Mountains as the foregoing species. It is considerably 

 smaller in size measuring only 4-5 inches inches in length, 

 but of brighter color. This is a yellow, somewhat dull an 

 becoming light brown on the wings and tail. Head and neck 

 are darker than the body. A crescent of orange runs from 

 the bill over the eye. 



Pcecilodryas leucops shares the same habitat. It is not un- 

 like the preceding in coloration of the body but that of the 

 head, nape and throat is entirely different. In this case it is 



