46 



collector, however, except Mr. Bates, seems to have met with examples of this species ; nor have 

 I seen specimens of it in any of the continental museums. Mr. Bates, I may remark, did not 

 himself visit the Eio Javari, but obtained the birdskins thus labelled from a French collector 

 who ascended that stream. 



The specimen of Brachygalha alhigularis in my own collection, which is also the subject of 

 the accompanying Plate (XIV.), is above generally of a dull black, with metallic green edgings 

 to the feathers on the back, wings, and tail, except on the primaries. This colour passes into 

 earthy brown on the upper surface of the head and nape. The narrow superciliaries and the 

 whole of the sides of the head, along with the upper part of the throat, are white. The lower 

 surface of the body generally is darker than the upper, but has slight metallic greenish reflec- 

 tions. In the middle of the abdomen is a distinct elongated chestnut patch ; but, if Spix is 

 correct, this is peculiar to the female sex, and is wanting in the male bird. The under surface 

 of the wings and under wing-coverts are black, with a well-defined band along the bases of the 

 remiges. The rectrices, excepting the two abnormal outermost, are of about equal length, 

 forming a nearly square tail-end. The bill is rather stouter than in the foregoing species of the 

 genus, and white in colour. The feet are apparently black ; but the tibio-tarsal joint shows some 

 indications of having been red in the living bird. 



It is much to be regretted that so little is known of this interesting bird ; but there appears 

 to be no doubt, whatever Spix's type may turn out to be, that it is a perfectly valid species, most 

 nearly allied to B. melanosterna^ but to be at once distinguished by the white supercilia and sides 

 of the head. 



