PIEZO RHYNCHUS AXILLARIS. 
White-tufted Flycatcher. 
Monarch* axillaris, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 291 (1875), xiv. p. 495 (1879).— Id. Orn. Papuasia e 
delle Molucche, ii. p. 30 (1881). 
Piezorhynclws axillaris, Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. iv. p. 426 f 1 8 7 9) . 
This plain-coloured but elegant Flycatcher is easily distinguished from all the members of the genus 
Piezorhynchus by its pure white axillaries, which contrast strongly with the general black plumage, so that it 
forms a distinct section of the genus to which it belongs. 
It is apparently a very local species ; for, as far as is known at present, it is an inhabitant only of the Arfak 
Mountains in North-western New Guinea, where Mr. Bruijn’s hunters procured an adult female in May and 
a young female in June, while the type specimen was obtained by Dr. Beccari in July, at Profi, in the Arfak 
Mountains, at a height of 3400 feet. No other travellers appear to have met with the species ; but 
Mr. Bru ij n sent a few specimens to the Leyden Museum, one of which Professor Scldegel allowed us to have 
for the British Museum. 
The following descriptions are taken from the typical adult males and the young female specimen in the 
Genoa Museum. They were examined by us during Count Salvador's visit to England, when he kindly 
allowed us to take descriptions of them for the purposes of the British Museum ‘ Catalogue of Birds ’ : — 
Adult male. General colour above and below glossy blue- black ; wing-coverts blackish, edged with glossy 
blue-black, like the back ; tail black ; under wing-coverts and axillaries pure white, the latter forming a 
conspicuous patch on each side of the breast. Total length 5 7 inches, eulmen 05, wing 3*2, tail 2’95, 
tarsus 075. 
Female (not quite adult). Differs from the male in being dark slate-colour above and below, with 
a slight bluish gloss, the breast brown (apparently remains of young plumage) ; wing brownish black ; tail 
black. Total length 6 inches, wing 3T, tail 29, tarsus 0 7. 
The figures in the Plate are of the size of life, and are drawn from the male specimen in the British Museum. 
[R. B. S.] 
