POMAREA RUFOCASTANEA. 
Rufous-and-Chestnut Flycatcher. 
Monarcha rufocastanea, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iv. pp. 79, 313 (1879). — Salvad. Ibis, 1880, 
p. 129. 
Monarcha rufocastaneus, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, xiv. p. 508 (1879). 
Pomarea castaneiventris, Salvad. Orn. Papuasia, etc. ii. p. 11 (1881, pt.). 
This species resembles very closely Pomarea castaneiventris of the Solomon group of islands, and to the latter 
bird it has been united by Count Salvador - !. Our own idea was also that these two species were identical, 
judging from Mr. Ramsay’s description ; but the latter gentleman, during his visit to England as Commis- 
sioner for New South Wales to the International Fisheries Exhibition, brought over the types of his 
Monarcha rufocastanea , and we are enabled to say that they are not the same species. 
On comparing males it is evident that P. rufocastanea is a smaller bird, is duller and more slaty black 
above and lighter chestnut below. The axillaries are entirely bay-coloured like the breast, whereas in 
P, castaneiventris the axillaries have distinct blackish bases and are rufous for not quite the terminal half. 
The females of the two species differ much more than the males. That of M. rufocastanea, besides being 
a much paler bird, is distinguished at once by its light grey throat, this being black in P. castaneiventris. 
The following are the descriptions of the typical specimens : — 
Aclult male (type of species). General colour above slaty black with a purplish-blue gloss, the hinder 
neck and mantle more ashy; lesser and median wing-coverts like the back; greater coverts, bastard wing, 
primary-coverts, and quills blackish brown, with slight remains of lighter brown edgings; tail-feathers blue- 
black ; lores and crown of head like the back ; ear-coverts also slaty black, surmounted by a faint indication 
of an iron-grey streak from above the fore part of the eye to about the end of the ear-coverts ; feathers 
below the eye and cheeks deeper black, with a slight wash of ashy grey ; sides of neck and entire throat 
dull eindery grey ; fore neck and rest of underparts clear chestnut or bay, including the thighs and under 
tail-coverts ; axillaries also bay-coloured like the breast ; the under wing-coverts bay, except near the edge 
of the wing, where they are either dull ashy or are bay with ashy bases. Total length 53 inches, culmen 
0'65, wing 275, tail 25, tarsus 0 7. ( Mus . Austr . ) 
Adult female . Different from the male. Above slaty grey, rather lighter on the crown of the head ; lesser 
and median wing-coverts like the back ; greater coverts, bastard wing, primary-coverts, and quills brown, with 
narrow reddish-brown margins ; tail-feathers dingy blackish brown ; sides of crown paler grey than the top 
of the head, which is like the back; eyelid dusky slate-colour ; feathers below the eye hoary whitish ; ear- 
coverts, sides of face, and cheeks ashy grey, as also the sides of the neck, which are somewhat washed with 
rufous; throat slaty grey, the lower part and the fore neck washed with rufous, and gradually deepening into 
the rich bay of the breast and underparts ; thighs ashy, washed with rufous ; axillaries and under wing- 
coverts slaty grey, the former edged with rufous near the ends. Total length 55 inches, culmen 0 65, wing 
30, tail 2 7, tarsus 07. 
The two sexes are figured of the natural size, the birds being drawn from the typical examples, for the 
loan of which we are indebted to Mr. E. P. Ramsay. 
[R. B. S.] 
