PELTOPS BLAINY ILLEI. 
Broad-billed Flycatcher. 
Eurylaimus Blainvillei, Garnot, Yoy. Coquille, i. p. 595, pi. 19. — Finsch, Neu-Guinea, p. 160. 
Peltops Blainvillii, Wagler. — Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 66. — Bp. Consp. i. p. 169. — Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 59, pi. 440. 
figs. 3211, 3212.— Scl. Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. ii. (1858) p. 160.— Gray, Cat. Mamm. &c. N. Guin. 
p. 19.— Id. P. Z.S. 1861, p. 433.— Wall. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 165— Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 319.— Scl. Ibis, 
1872, p. 177.— Id. P.Z.S. 1873, p. 696. 
Erolla Blainvillei, Less. Traite, p. 260. 
Platysomus Blainvillei, Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 261. 
This curious form of Flycatcher is only found in New Guinea and Mysol, Yon Rosenberg having discovered 
it in the latter island. The original specimen was procured at Dorey in New Guinea ; and Mr. Wallace 
also met with it in the north-western part of the same island, while Signor d’Albertis shot an example at 
Sorong. So rare has the species always been in collections, that a special examination of its structure has 
always been difficult ; thus the bird has until lately been placed with the Broad-bills (Eurylsemidse). Dr. 
Sclater was the first to recognize the true affinities of the genus ; and I cannot do better than quote his 
observations on the subject : — 
“The genus Peltops, containing the single species P. Blainvillii of New Guinea, has been usually referred 
to the Eurylseminse, or Broad-bills, and the group thus formed united in the same family with the Rollers 
(Coraciadse), the Todies (Todidse), and the Motmots (Momotidse), or, at all events, placed in their 
immediate neighbourhood. Several errors are, in my opinion, embraced in this classification. 
“ In the first place, Peltops has nothing whatever to do with the Euryhemidm, being a truly Muscicapine 
form allied to Monarcha and Machcerirhynchus, as the most casual examination of its structure at once 
shows. The mistake, no doubt, comes from the somewhat exaggerated form of the bill in Peltops, and 
from its general coloration resembling that of Cymbirhynchus. The rarity of Peltops has prevented the 
error from being discovered. On examining the wing of Peltops it will be seen that the first primary is 
short or ‘ spurious ’ (as in all the true Oseines) when it exists at all. In Cymbirhynchus there are ten fully 
formed primaries. There is also a conspicuous difference in the size of the feet in the two forms, these 
organs being strong and thick in Cymbirhynchus, while they are feeble and weak in Peltops, as in other 
Muscicapidse. The relegation of Peltops to the Muscicapidm also removes an anomaly in geographical 
distribution, it being obviously strange that no otherwise exclusively Indo-Malayan type, such as the 
Eurylsemidse, should have a single outlier in New Guinea.” 
General colour, both above and below, glossy black, including the wings and tail ; ear-coverts and a patch 
on the interscapulary region white ; rump, vent, upper and under tail-coverts crimson. Total length 
7 inches, culmen 0*95, wing 3'9, tail 3*4, tarsus 06. 
My Plate is drawn from Signor d’Albertis’s Sorong specimen, which he kindly lent me when in London. 
The figure is life-size. 
