General colour pale olivaceous yellow, with a few obscure large spots along the body somewhat brighter. The head has four yellow oblique bands, between which, and behind the eye, is a bright blue spot. Ventral fins blackish. The first dorsal fin is trigonal, and has the third ray lengthened and longest; the three last rays tipt with deep-black; the second fin is lengthened, broadest at the end, the membrane greyish-white with narrow longitudinal lines of yellow. Caudal fin lanceolate, pointed, blackish-purple, margined and marked with yellow lines parallel with the borders. Pectoral fin ovately rounded, with faint yellow transverse bands. Anal fin resembling the second dorsal, greyish, with the margin dull-purple. Scales large, very deciduous; lateral line invisible; lower jaw longest; teeth minute. Body and fins semi-transparent. The first dorsal fin has seven rays; the second fifteen; anal fifteen; pectoral twelve; caudal seventeen; ventral fourteen. * * * * * Pl. 13 [Illustration] PLATYRHYNCHUS Ceylonensis. _Ceylonese Flat-bill._ * * * * * GENERIC CHARACTER. _Rostrum breve, rectum, depressissimum, ferme trigonum; mandibula superiore ad apicem abrupte adunca, emarginata; inferiore recta, breviore; marginibus superioris inferiorem superplicantibus. Os et Nares longis rigidis vibrissis obtectae. Nares, mediae inter apicem et hiatum rostri. Cauda plerumque aequalis, rectricibus duodecim. Pedes et Tarsi breves, graciles._ Typi Generici. Div. I. _Todus Platyrhynchos._ Gm. Div. II. _Muscicapa barbata._ Lath. Bill short, straight, thin, very depressed, and nearly triangular; the upper mandible abruptly hooked at the tip, and notched; the margins folding over those of the under mandible, which is straight and shorter. Mouth and nostrils defended by long stiff bristles. Nostrils medial between the tip and gape of the bill. Tail mostly even, of twelve feathers. Legs and toes short, slender. Generic Types. Div. I. _Todus Platyrhynchos._ Gm. Div. II. _Muscicapa barbata._ Lath. * * * * * SPECIFIC CHARACTER. _P. olivaceus, subtus flavus; capite mentoque cinereis._ Olivaceous Flat-bill, beneath yellow. Head and chin cinereous. * * * * * The sober tints of this little bird accord more with those of Europe than of India, of which country however it is a native, having been sent from Ceylon to the British Museum: it is the only one I have yet seen, and appears hitherto undescribed. The stiff bristles at the corner of the mouth are nearly the length of the bill, which is quite flattened: the tail is even, and the whole bird in every respect but colour closely resembles the bearded Flycatcher (_Musc. barbata_ Lath.).