Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 3



A specimen of this richly-coloured bird was sent to John Taylor, Esq., F. G. S., &c., from Real del Monte, in Mexico. It is not only new to Ornithologists, but forms a beautiful addition to a geographic group, originally founded upon one species.

The figure is the size of life. The bristles at the bill are compact, rigid, and all directed forwards: under tail covers and thighs whitish: the white band on the wings occupies the greater covers, and the tips of the lesser: the quill covers are also margined with white: the extreme base of the three outer tail feathers are more or less black.

The characters upon which we formed this group, confine it strictly to birds of the New World. For although the habits of the typical species evince a marked affinity to the Fantailed Flycatchers of Australia, the construction of their wings is totally different. The disposition of the black and crimson colours on our bird, will remind the Ornithologist of the Red-bellied Flycatcher of Latham, of which, in fact, it is nearly an exact prototype. But this resemblance, however strong, appears to us to be one of analogy, rather than of affinity. We consequently consider the Muscicapa Multicolor, Lathami, and Goodenovia, of MM. Horsfield and Vigors, as more truly belonging to the family of Sylviadæ.