LALAGE MCESTA, Sclater. 
B1 ack-bro wed Caterpillar-catcher. 
Lai age nicest a, Sclater, Proc, Zool. Soc. 1883, p. 55. 
•F, .■!: i’; M 
The present species is one of the novelties discovered by Mr. H. O. Forbes during bis expedition to 
Timor laut. It is intermediate in coloration between Lalage timoriensis of Timor, and L. pacifica and 
L. terat, having the tail of the first-named bird, but the wing-coverts patterned as in the last-named species : 
from both of these, however, it may be distinguished by its pure white rump-band, and by the absence of a 
white eyebrow. From L. timoriensis it may be told by the lesser wing-coverts being greenish -black like the 
back; but, like that species, it has only two of the outer tail-feathers tipped with white. In L. timoriensis, 
also, there is a very distinct superciliary streak of white, whereas in the present bird the white is confined 
to a rather broad streak above the lores. 
The following is a description of the typical specimens, which have been kindly lent to me by my 
friend Dr. Sclater. They will be ultimately deposited in the British Museum. 
Adult male. General colour above glossy greenish black, the feathers of the lower back with ashy grey 
bases ; rump white ; the upper tail-coverts steel-black, tipped with white ; wing-coverts like the back, the 
median and greater series with white spots at the tip, forming a double wing-bar, the white endings to the 
median series being much the broadest ; bastard wing and primary-coverts uniform black ; quills black, the 
secondaries edged with white on the outer web, this white, however, not extending to the base of the feathers, 
though it reaches to the tip of the outer w^eb of the inner secondaries ; tail-feathers black with a steely gloss 
on the margins, the two outer feathers with broad white ends, feathers in front of the eye black, surmounted 
by a white loral streak from the base of the nostrils to above the fore part of the eye ; upper and lower 
margin of eyelid white ; ear-coverts white, black on the upper margin ; cheeks, sides of the neck, and entire 
under surface of the body, as well as the thighs, under tail-coverts, under wing-coverts and axillaries, pure 
white; quills black below, but with about half of the inner web white, forming a large white patch on the 
under surface of the quills. Total length 7 inches, culmen 055, wing 3 - 85, tail 3’0, tarsus 09. 
The bird described is apparently an adult male. A female sent by Mr. Forbes differs in being less glossy 
black above, and in having the rump-band more ashy white, the blackish subterminal markings, which are 
concealed in the male, being ashy and more conspicuous in the female. The throat and chest are slightly 
tinged with buff, and the lower series of under wing-coverts are white with blackish tips. These last two 
characters may be the remains of immaturity. Total length 7 inches, culmen 055, wing 3 7, tail 3‘0, 
tarsus 0’95. 
The figures in the Plate represent a pair of birds of the natural size. 
[R. B. S.] 
