PCECILODRYAS. 
and the same distinctive wing pattern. The second species, armiti De Vis, 
while agreeing in size with the preceding, has the head darker and half an 
eye-stripe, recalling Poecilodryas. 
The brachyura series, which have been called Leucophantes , are like Poecilo- 
dryas , but darker above without the distinctive white tips to the tails, which are 
short, and in hypoleuca the dark colour of the back is intensified and extends 
on to the side of the breast while the distinctive wing pattern is retained. 
A black series, with sigillata De Vis as type, I separate as Peneothello 
gen. nov. These may not be closely related to the original Poecilodryas 
at all. They show none of the distinctive colours of the preceding and have 
assumed a black coloration direct from the juvenile plumage, and can only be 
placed in conjunction with the above mentioned by those who indulge in guess- 
work in classifying their birds. As regards structural features they are large 
forms with small bills, medium feet, and the wing formation is degenerate, being 
more rounded than the typical species and approaching that of Iredaleornis, 
the second primary being about equal to the secondaries. It should be obvious 
to the thinking student that these should be separated from the Poecilodryas 
series as represented in Iredaleornis, Poecilodryas and Leucophantes. 
It is interesting to recall Dr. Lowe’s thrust at the antagonists of colour 
pattern in this connection. He recalled how Dr. Hartert had shown that 
Poecilodryas oethiops , one of these black and white species, was only Pratincola 
caprata, and queried whether it was the peculiar coloration that had attracted 
Dr. Hartert and first suggested that a mistake had been made. 
Ogilvie-Grant (Ibis, Jubilee Suppl., Dec. 2, 1915, p. 112) referred Poecilo- 
dryas quadrimaculatus Van Oort to Saxicola, writing : “ Other allied species 
of Black Chats which have been included among the Flycatchers ( Poecilodryas ) 
but should be referred to Saxicola, are — Poecilodryas sigillata De Vis, Poecilo- 
dryas cethiops Sclater and Myiolestes ? bimaculata Salvadori.” 
These certainly differ as much from Saxicola as from Poecilodryas, so that 
my genus seems very necessary. As Hartert has amalgamated the Flycatchers 
and Chats in the same family, it would be interesting to have the distinctive 
features of those groups indicated by him. 
Megalestes was introduced by Salvadori for a fine species and was accepted 
by Messrs. Rothschild and Hartert in 1903 as the coloration was so different, 
the excuse being “ the broader and flatter bill.” Prior to Salvadori’s use the 
name had been appropriated by Selys-Longchamps, Bull Acad. Sci. Bruxelles, 
Ser. 2, Vol. XIII., p. 293, 1862, so that a new name is necessary, and I propose 
Plesiodryas nov., the type being the same species, Megalestes albonotatus 
Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov., Vol. VII., p. 769, 1875. 
The blue-grey series, of which the type and apparently only species is 
vol. vnr. 
185 
