A MONOGRAPH OF THE FLYCATCHER GENERA HYPO-THYMIS AND CYANONYMPHA. By Harry C. Oberholser,Assistant Ornithologist, Department of Agriculture. Among the many East Indian birds of Dr. W. L. Abbott's collect-ing, now in the U. S. National Museum, that Mr. Ridgway, the curatorof birds, has referred to the writer for determination, are a consider-able number of blue flycatchers of the genus Hypotliymis. Thesespecimens are largely of forms more or less nearly related to Hypo-tlujmis azurea; and in order satisfactorily to work out their relation-ships it has been necessary to make as thorough an examination aspossible of all the species of the genus.The genus HyjJothymis at present consists nominally of 1 1 speciesand subspecies. Of these, HyjiotJiymis sujjerciliaris and its closeally, H. samarensis, are clearly out of place in Hypothymis, but evenmore so in RMjndura, where some recent authors have placed them.It seems necessary, therefore, to create for them a new genus, whichI hereinafter accordingly do. Nor am I fully satisfied regarding thecorrect position of Hyi)othymis rowleyi, but leave it here pending fur-ther investigation. The bird from Celebes, Hypothymis puellapuella^ and its subspecies from the Sula Islands, Hypothymis puellahlasii, are very distinct from the other members of the genus, as isalso Hypothymis abhotti Richmond.All the other forms, including several new ones, are clearly geo-graphical races of Hypothymis azurea, though some of them pass forspecies. We are now able to distinguish sixteen forms of Hypo-thymis azurea, most of them island races, and, with two excep-tions, of comparatively limited distribution. Each intergrades withsome other, either through individual variation or (in one instance)continuity of range, so that there is just cause for considering them all subspecies. ^Most of the color characters exist only in the males,the females in nearly every case being separable, if at all, onlyby size, so that in the following pages the diagnoses apply to the Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 39?No. 1803. 585 586 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 39. males alone unless otherwise specified. Individual variation in thegroup is not excessive, although there is usually some difference inthe shade and extent of the blue ; so that the characters are preservedwith fair uniformity. Newly molted birds are usually of brighter,sometimes slightly more purplish, blue, than when much worn, butthis color does not appear otherwise to undergo any material change.Like so many other birds of the same general region, some of theforms of HypotJiymis are peculiar in their geographical distribution.The race of HypotJiymis azurea occurring on the Tambelan Islands,off the western coast of Borneo, is H. a. opisihocyanea"' of the AnambaIslands, instead of the Borneo-Malay Peninsula form. The sub-species found on the island of Car Nicobar, Nicobar Islands, Hypo-tJiymis azurea idiocJiroa,^ is much more like HypotJiymis azurea pro-pJiata '^ from the Malay Peninsula than like HypotJiymis azurea calo-cara^ from the other Nicobar Islands. Still more remarkable, andshowing again the apparent kinship or parallel development of formsfrom the western coast islands of Sumatra with forms from the Anda-man Islands that exists in birds of other genera, is the close similarityof HypotJiymis azurea consohrina, from Simalur Island, and Hypo-tJiymis azurea ricJimondi,^ from Engano Island, to HypotJiymis azureatytleri, from the Andaman Islands, and their great difference fromboth HypotJiymis azurea propJiata/ of the Sumatra mainland, and allthe island races that geographically intervene between Engano andSimalur islands. Furthermore, the bird from the Pagi Islands, Hypo-tJiymis azurea leucopJiila,^ which is the one of these island races geo-graphically nearest HypotJiymis azurea ricJimondi,^ from Engano, is,in appearance, the most different; while between HypotJiymis azureaamelis,^ from Nias, and HypotJiymis azurea consohrina, from SimalurIsland, there comes in the totally distinct species HyjJotJiymis ahJ)otti,on Pulo Babi and Pulo Lasia.The literature relating to this group of very beautiful little fly-catchers is to be found mostly as scattered notes on individual speciesin systematic and faunal papers; and the only complete recentaccount of the genus is that of Dr. R. B. Sharpe, in the Catalogue ofBirds in the British Museum, volume 4, 1879, pages 273 to 279.The material which has been available as the basis of this review ofHypotJiymis consists of 205 specimens, in large part of the fortunatelyexcellent series (180 specimens) in the U. S. National Museum.Aside from this we are indebted for altogether 25 specimens to Mr.J. H. Fleming, and to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel-phia, through the kindness of Mr. Witmer Stone. ? See p. 602. t? See p. 610. ^ See p. 607.b See p. 604. e See p. 613. ^Seep. 613.c See p. 597. /Seep. 597. * See p. 608. NO. 1803. HYPOTHYMIS^ AND CYANONYMPHA?OBERHOL^ER. 587CYANONYMPHA,a new genus. Chars, gen.?Similar to Hypothymis Boie, but bill more slender; rictal bristles much longer, reaching nearly or quite to end of bill;feathers of crown not stiffened; tarsus much less distinctly scutel-late. Similar to Rhipidura Vigors and Horsfield, but tail not de-cidedly longer than wing, and only rounded, not strongly graduated;tarsus less distmctly scutellate; rictal bristles relatively shorter,not reaching appreciably beyond tip of bill.Type of the genus.?Hypothymis superciliaris Sharpe.Geographical distribution.?Southern Philippine Islands. KKY TO THE FORMS OF CYANONYMPHA, BASED ON ADULT MALES. tt. Pileum lighter, brighter, more bluish; light-blue eyebrow and frontal line broader.Cyanonympha superciliaris superciliaris. "^ Pileum darker, duller, less bluish; light-blue eyebrow and frontal line more narrow.Cyanonympha superciliaris samarensis.CYANONYMPHA SUPERCILIARIS SUPERCILIARIS (Sharpe). Hypothymis superciliaris Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., ser. 2, vol. 1, pt. 6,1877, p. 326 (Isabella de Basilan, Basilan Island, Philippine Islands).Chars, sp.?Upper parts of male deep verditer blue, the i>ileumindigo blue, the forehead and a supraloral line bright azure blue;wmgs and tail fuscous, margined with cobalt or purplish indigoblue; throat and breast purplish china blue; posterior lower partswhite washed with blue. Female similar to male, but of a ratherlighter, slightly more greenish blue.Measurements.?Seven males: Wing, 73-81 (average, 78.1); tail,75.5-83.5 (average, 77.9); exposed culmen, 11-12 (average, 11.6);tareus, 15.5-16.5 (average, 15.9) mm. Six females: Wing, 72-78.5(average, 74,9); tail, 73.5-79 (average, 76.5); exposed culmen,11-12 (average, 11.6); tarsus, 15-16 (average, 15.5) mm.Type-locality.?Isabella de Basilan, Basilan Island, PhilippineIslands.Geographical distribution.?Islands of Basilan and Mindanao, Pliil-ippme Archipelago.Specimens from the island of Basilan seem to average somewhatlighter, more greenish blue above than those from Mmdanao, butthis is not sufficient to warrant any subspecific separation, at leastwith the material at our present disposal. There is apparently verylittle sexual difference in this species, aside from the inferior size ofthe female. OKuavoc, cyanos; vujxrj, nympha. 588 PROCEEDmGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 39.Detailed millimeter measurements of the specimens examined areas follows: Measurements of specimens of Cyanonympha superciliaris superciliaris examined. Museum and No. NO. 1803. HYPOTHYMIS AND CYAN0NYMPHA?0BERH0L8EB. 589 reaching barely beyond middle of bill; feathers of crown stiffened;tail not decidedly longer than the wing; and not so strongly roundedor graduated.Type.?"Muse, caerulea Vaill. Afr. pi. 153" {= Muscicapa azureaBoddaert).Geographical distribution.?Philippine Islands, Formosa, Hainan,Cochin China, Burmah, Malay Peninsula, and India; south to Ceylon,Sumatra and its islands, Java, Lombok, Sumbawa, and Flores;east to Celebes and the Sula Islands.KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OP HYPOTHYMIS, BASED ON ADULT MALES. A. No blackish occipital patch. a. Upper parts deep pure blue Hypothymis abhotti. a}. Upper parts lighter, grayish blue.6. Size averaging smaller; lower parts not decidedly paler than upper surface. c. Blue above and below paler Hypothymis puella puella. c' . Blue above and below darker Hypothymis puella blasii.?. Size larger; lower parts decidedly paler than upper suiiace.-Hypothymis rowleyi.B. A black or blackish occipital patch. a. Flanks and crissum pure white.b. No black collar on foreneck; black occipital spot indistinct.Hyj)othymis azurea ceylonensis.6'. A black collar on foreneck; black occipital spot distinct. c. Larger (wing 75 mm. or more); upper parts darker.Hypothymis azurea forrestia.c^ Smaller (wing less than 75 mm.); upper parts lighter.d. Blue of upper surface more purplish; wing averaging less than 70 mm.Hypothymis azurea azurea.d}. Blue of upper surface less purplish; wing averaging more than 70 mm. e. Crown much paler than back Hypothyviis azurea coeruleocephala. e^. Crown not much paler than back Hypothymis azurea leucophila. a^. Flanks and crissum grayish or tinged with blue.b. Crown decidedly paler than the back. c. Wing less than 73 mm.d. Back lighter, less purplish; pileum less strongly contrasted with back.Hypothymis azurea ponera.d'. Back darker, more purplish blue; pileum more strongly contrasted withback Hypothymis azurea prophata. c'. Wing 73 mm. or more.d. Upper parts paler, less purplish blue Hypothymis azurea idiochroa.d^. Upper parts deeper, more purplish blue. e. Larger (wing averaging 77.7 mm.); posterior lower parts usually morebluish Hypothymis azurea opisthocyanea. e^. Smaller (wing averaging 74 mm.); posterior lower parts usually lessbluish Hypothymis azurea gigantoptera.v. Crown not decidedly paler than the back, c. Posterior lower parts less heavily overlaid with blue, the white of medianabdomen more extended, never nearly absent.d. Larger (wing over 70 mm.); blue less pnrplish... Hypothymis azurea isocara.d\ Smaller (wing under 70 mm.); blue more purplish.Hypothymis azurea calocara. 590 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.39. c^ Posterior lower parts more heavily overlaid with blue, the white of medianabdomen more restricted, sometimes absent.d. Wing averaging less than 70 mm. e. Pileum paler, and appreciably contrasted with back; posterior lower partsmore whitish; axillars more whitish, less washed with blue.Hypothymis azurea amelis. e^ . Pileum darker, and not appreciably contrasted with back ; posterior lowerparts more bluish; axillars more grayish and more washed with blue.Hypothymis azurea consohrina,d}. Wing averaging more than 70 mm. e. Blue of upper and lower surfaces lighter; posterior lower parts morewhitish and less overlaid with blue Hypothymis azurea tytleri' e^. Blue of upper and lower surfaces darker; posterior lower parts moregrayish and more overlaid with blue Hypothymis azurea richmondi.HYPOTHYMIS ROWLEY! (Meyer).Zeocephus rowleyi Meyer, Rowley's Ornith. Misc., vol. 3, 1878, p. 163.Chars, sp.?Similar to Hypothymis puella puella, but much larger;upper surface darker, and contrasted strongly with the paler lowerparts.Description of adult male."-?"Upper parts bluish, brighter on theback; wing-feathers blackish grey, margins of the outer webs greyishblue, of the inner whitish. Underparts light pale blue, somewhatwhitish on the belly; wing-feathers beneath grey, margins of theouter webs and under wing-coverts white. Rectrices bluish greyabove, outer webs blue, of the same colour as the back; beneath grey.Bill blackish, under mandible paler. Bristles very long, some reach-ing the tip of the bill. Feet and claws greyish."Measurements (of type).?"Total length 180 millims., bill 13, wing96, tail 92, tarsus 21." ^Type-locality.?Tabukan, Great Sangi Island, Sangi Islands.Geographical distribution.?Sangi Islands.The type of this pretty flycatcher is in the Dresden Museum, andapparently still remains unique. From what Meyer and Wigles-worth say,'^ the species appears to be doubtfully placed in Hypothy-mis; but, not having seen a specimen, I am, of course, not able tomake any change in its currently accepted generic position.HYPOTHYMIS PUELLA PUELLA (Wallace).Myiagra puella Wallace, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1862, p. 340.Chars, sp.?Upper and lower parts nearly uniform campanulablue, the abdomen paler; wings and tail fuscous, margined withcampanula blue; a narrow blackish line around the base of themaxilla; iris gray; bill, legs, and feet black.Measurements.?Six males: Wing, 71-77 (average, 74.1); tail,72-78 (average, 73.8); exposed culmen, 11.5-13 (average, 12.3); a Original description of type, Meyer, Rowley's Ornith. Misc., vol. 3, 1878, p. 163.b Meyer, Rowley's Ornith. Misc., vol. 3, 1878, p. 163.c Birds of Celebes, vol. 1, 1898, p. 378. NO. 1803. HYP0THYMI8 AND CYANONTMPHA?OBERHOLSER. 591 tarsus, 16-17 (average, 16.4) mm. Five females: Wing, 70-76 (aver-age, 72.9); tail, 68-76.5 (average, 73.2); exposed culmen, 11.5-13(average, 12.2); tarsus, 15.5-16.5 (average, 16.3) mm.Type-locality.?Menado, northern Celebes."GeograpTiical distribution.?Celebes.Although the only specimens examined were taken in northernCelebes, this form occurs in all parts of the island, to which, how-ever, it is apparently confined. There is considerable individualvariation among adults, in the shade of the blue, this in some beingmuch richer than in others. There is apparently no sexual differ-ence in color, but the female averages slightly smaller than the male.Immature birds, however, seem to be paler and of a more grayishblue. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis puella puella examined. Museum and No. U.S.N.M. 17S228.... J. H. Fleming 10864. J. H. Fleming 10862.J. H.Fleming 10865.J. H. Fleming 10863.A.N. S. Pliila.51715 . U.S.N.M. 178229....A.N. S. Pliila.51716. J. H. Fleming 10861. J. H. Fleming 10868. J. H. Fleming 10866. Sex. Male... ...do... ...do..., ...do..., ...do..., ...do....Female ...do..., ...do.... ...do..., ...do.... Locality. Northern Cele-bes.Totok, Mina-hasa, Celebes.dododoRorakan, Minorhasa, Celebes.Northern Cele-bes.Mount Masa-rang, Celebes.Rorakan, Mina-hasa, Celebes.Kotta Buna,M i n ahasa ,Celebes.Bojat, Minahasa,Celebes. Date. 1883Apr. ?,1899Jan. 27,1899Mar. 13,1899Jan. 27,1899Oct. ?,18951883Oct. ?1895Apr. ?,1899May ?,1899 June ?,1899 Collector. 592 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MU8EU2I. VOL. 39.HYPOTHYMIS ABBOTTI Richmond.Hypothymis abbotti Richmond, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. 15, 1902, p. 189 (PuloBabi, western coast of Sumatra).(Jhars. sp.?Entire plumage of male uniform bright cyanine blue;but wing-quills and tail blackish clove brown, broadly edged exter-nally with marine blue; no black on occiput or jugulum; a tiny chinspot and the narial bristles black. Female blackish sepia brown,washed with marine blue, less so on wing-quills and tail, the wholehead and throat dull, dark cyanine blue.Measurements.?Six males: Wing, 75-79.5 (average, 77.7); tail,75.5-80.5 (average, 78); exposed culmen, 11-12.5 (average, 11.8);tarsus, 17-19 (average, 17.9) mm. One female: Wing, 77; tail, 76;exposed culmen, 12; tarsus, 18 mm.Type-locality.?Pulo Babi, off the western coast of Sumatra.Geographical distribution.?Pulo Babi and Pulo Lasia, off the west-ern coast of Sumatra.This remarkable distinct species is most closely allied to Hypotliy- 'mis azurea ricJimondi,"' from Engano Island, which, except for thelack of black jugular band and black occipital crescent, it closelyresembles. In its lack of black on occiput and jugulum it agrees withHypothymis rowleyi, but in size and color is very different. Thefeathers of the jugulum are peculiarly truncated, and end in a sharpline posteriorly, as in Hypothymis azurea and its forms; and some-times there are small hidden black spots on a few of the feathers atthis line of demarcation between the square ended feathers of thejugulum and the normal feathers of the breast. Thus Hypothymisabhotti seems to be virtually a Hypothymis azurea richmondi that haslost practically all the black of occiput and jugulum, not, as might atfirst sight appear, a close ally of Hypothymis rowleyi or Hypothymispuella puella.The five adult males of our series are very uniform in coloration.Birds from Pulo Lasia seem to be identical in size and color with thosefrom Pulo Babi. An immature female is essentially like the singleadult female.Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis abbotti examined. NO. 1803. HYP0THYMI8 AND CYANONYMPHA?OBERHOLSER. 593HYPOTHYMIS AZUREA AZUREA (Boddaert).Muscicapa azurea Boddaert, Tabl. Planch. Enlum., 1783, p. 41 (based on the " Gobe-mouche blendes Philippines" of Daubenton, Planch. Enlum., 666fig. 1).Muscicajpa caerulea Gmelin, Syst. Nat., vol. 1, pt. 2, 1788, p. 943 (PhilippineIslands).Muscicapa occipitalis Vigors, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1831, p. 97 (Manila, Luzon,Philippine Islands). *Chars, suhsp.?Upper parts, throat, and breast of male hyacinthblue, the pileiim lighter; a narrow line across forehead, a small chinspot, a somewhat crescentic bar across juguliim, and a crescenticpatch on occiput black; abdomen, sides, flanks, and crissum white,the first two sometimes washed anteriorly with blue; axillars white,Httle, if at all, tinged with blue.Female with head, throat, and breast dull cyanine blue, paler onthe last; posterior lower parts white, washed with grayish laterally;rest of upper surface rufescent bister brown; wings and tail clovebrown, margined with the warmer brown of back, and with little orno tinge of blue; a narrow black line on extreme forehead, but noblack on occiput or jugulum.Measurements.?Twenty-five males : Wing, 65-72.5 (average, 67.6);tail, 64.5-73.5 (average, 67.9); exposed culmen, 10-12 (average, 11);tarsus, 14-17 (average, 15.7) mm. Twenty-two females: Wing, 63-69.5 (average, 66.2) ; tail, 62-72.5 (average, 67.9) ; exposed culmen,10-12 (average, 11); tarsus, 14.5-17 (average, 15.8) mm.Type-locality.?Pliilippine Islands.Geographical distribution.?Philippine Islands, including the Pala-wan group ; and Formosa.A good series from the Philippine Islands shows that this race isalmost as white below as Hypothynds azurea coeruleocephala fromIndia; the lower tail-coverts, flanks, and lower abdomen are white,but the blue of the breast extends somewhat farther back than in theIndian form. Daubenton's plate,'* on which Muscicapa azurea Bod-daert'' was based, is thus not so inaccurate as has been supposed,and there now seems to be no satisfactory reason for not applyingthe name azurea to the Philippine bird, to which it exclusively refers.The Muscicapa caerulea of Gmelin,'' founded upon the "Petit azur"of BufTon,'^ the "Gobe-mouche bleu des Philippines" of Daubenton,^and the "Azure flycatcher" of Latham,-'' is of course synonymous; andthe same is to be said of Muscicapa occipitalis Vigors,^ from Manila. a Planch. Enlum, 666, fig. 1.6 Tabl. Planch. Enlum., 1783, p. 41.cSyst. Nat., vol. 1, pt. 2, 1788, p. 943. am atX 3 69 70 71.57167 67 67.56705.503.5 66 62 11 9.5 12 11 10.5 11 10.5 10 11 1110 1112 11 12.5 1111.511 10 10.11 1110 11 10.5 E-1 15.5 1516 15.5 16 15 15.5 15 14.5 16.5 1515 1616 15 16.5 1610. 516.5 15 15.515.514.510 16 15 a Measured in the flesh by the collector. b Type. 600 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 39. Measurements NO. 1803. HYP0THYMI8 AND CYAN0NYMPHA?0BERH0L8ER. 601To judge from the limited Natuna Island series at hand, this formappears to be identical in color with Hypothymis azurea 'pro'phata,from Borneo and Sumatra, but in size it is sufficiently greater to war-rant subspecific separation. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea gigantoptera examined. 6 602 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 39.Otherwise it differs from //. a. coeruleocephala in darker, more purplistiblue upper parts of the male, and greater backward extension of theblue below; from H. a. azurea in average darker blue of upper andlower surface; from H. a. 'proyhata in the more whitish posteriorlower parts (the flanks and crissum being without blue) , and in rathermore purely white axillars; from H. a. calocara and H. a. idiochroain darker, more purplish blue of throat, breast, and upper surface,together with much less bluish posterior lower parts, and addition-ally from H. a. calocara in the greater contrast between pileum andback. Females are darker than those of H. a. coeruleoce/phala, and,except for larger size, are not with certainty distinguishable fromfemales of H, a. propJiata.This form doubtless prevails throughout the Mergui Archipelago,though all our speciniens come from Sullivan and Ijoughboroughislands in the southern portion. One male from Sullivan Island islighter, both above and below, than the type.Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea forrestia examined. o ?am NO. 1803. HYPOTHYMIS AND CYAN0NYMPHA?0BEBH0L8EB. 603blue; axillars grayish white, shaded with blue; thighs slate grayish,washed with blue; "feet blue; bill blue, black at tip."Measurements.?Ten males: Wing, 75.5-80 (average, 77.7); tail,76-80 (average, 77.3); exposed culmen, 10-12 (average, 11.4); tarsus,16-18 (average, 17). Six females: Wing, 74.5-78 (average, 76.4);tail, 74-78 (average, 76.1); exposed culmen, 11-12 (average, 11.4);tarsus, 16-17.5 (average, 16.6) mm.Type-locality.?Pulo Piling, Anamba Islands.Geograyliical distribution.?Anamba and Tambelan islands.This new form is similar to Hypotliymis azurea pro])liata, but muchlarger, and has the posterior lower parts, with the axUlars, usuallymore extensively shaded with blue. In some respects of color itresembles Hypothymis azurea tytleri, from the Andaman Islands, butis easily distinguishable from that race by its larger size, and, in themale, by the greater contrast between pileum and back, and themore whitish median portion of abdomen. It differs from Hypothy-mis a. calocara and H. a. idiochroa in larger size, darker, more purplishupper and lower surfaces of the male, and in much more deeplybluish crissum. In addition, it may be distinguished from H. a.calocara by its paler pileum, much more contrasted with the back.It seems to be one of the best marked subspecies of Hypotliymisazurea, and in size is approached by only one other. Birds from theTambelan Islands seem to be absolutely identical with those fromthe Anamba Islands. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea opisthocyanea examined. 1= 604 PROCEEDINOS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 39. HYPOTHYMIS AZXJREA IDIOCHROA, new subspecies.Chars, subsj).?Similar to Hypothymis azurea calocara,"' but muchlarger; blue of upper and lower parts paler and appreciably lesspurplish; pileum strikingly paler, and much more contrasted withback.Description.?Tjipe, adult male, No. 178873, U.S.N.M.; CarNicobar Island, Nicobar Islands, January 25, 1901 ; Dr. W. L. Abbott.Upper surface, chin, throat, upper breast, with sides of head andneck cyanine blue, much lighter on pileum; a somewhat crescenticbar across jugulum, a narrow frontal line around the base of theculmen, and a crescentic occipital patch black; wings and tail sepia,more or less tinged or margined externally with marine blue, theentire exposed surface of wing-coverts cyanine blue; posterior lowerparts white, anteriorly and laterally much tinged with blue, thecrissum somewhat so; under wmg-coverts exteriorly blue, interiorlywhite mixed with grayish; axillars grayish white, slightly tingedwith bluish; ''iris blackish brown; bill blue, the tip blackish; feetdull blue."Measurements.?Two males: Wing, 73-73.5 (average, 73.3); tail,71-74.5 (average, 72.8); exposed culmen, 12-13 (average, 12.5);tarsus, 17-17.5 (average, 17.3). One female: Wing, 71; tail, 71;exposed culmen, 12.5.; tarsus, 17 mm.Type-locality.?Gar Nicobar Island, Nicobar Islands.Geographical distribution.?Car Nicobar Island, Nicobar Islands.This form is geographically very near H. a. calocara, but it is somuch larger and so different in color that I can not consistently con-sider it identical; it is larger than either azurea or prophata. So faras known it is confined to the island of Car Nicobar. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea idiochroa examined. l3 NO. 1803. HYP0THYMI8 AND CYAN0NYMPHA?0BERH0L8ER. 605 Description.?Type, adult male, No. 179916, U.S.N.M.; TanaMasa Island, Batu Islands, western Sumatra, February 17, 1903;Dr. W. L. Abbott. Pileum intermediate in color between cobaltblue and campanula blue; remainder of upper parts intermediatebetween French blue and hyacinth blue; throat and breast betweensmalt blue and ultramarine; a bar across the forehead at the base ofthe bill, a very small chin spot, a crescentic occipital patch, and asomewhat crescentic bar on jugulum velvet black; wings and tailslate black, the wing-quills and rectrices broadly margined externallywith marine blue, the wing-coverts with the color of the back; pos-terior lower parts white, the fore part of abdomen, the sides, flanks,and crissum washed with blue, most heavily on abdomen, but slightlyon crissum; exterior under wing-coverts blue like the tliroat, therest of wing lining slate gray mixed with white; axillars grayishwhite, somewhat washed with blue; thighs slate gray, heavily over-laid with blue.Measurements.?Tliree males: Wing, 71-72 (average, 71.5); tail,70-74 (average, 72.7); exposed culmen, 10.5-11 (average, 10.8);tarsus, 15-16 (average, 15.5) mm.Type-locality.?Tana Masa Island, Batu Islands.Geographical distribution.?Batu Islands, western Sumatra.This new form is somewhat intermediate between Ilypothymisazurea prophata, from Sumatra, and //. a. leucopMla " from the PagiIslands, but since it is easily recognizable and seems to be confined tothe Batu Islands, it is best separated subspecifically. The birdsfrom Tana Bala and Tana Masa islands are typical, but the singleadult male from Pulo Pinie is intermediate between this race andH. a. prophata; but whether or not other specimens from the sameisland would be identical remains to be seen. No females have beenexamined. Measurements of specimens of Ilypothymis azurea ponera examined. t3 606 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 39. HYPOTHYMIS AZUREA ISOCARA, new subspecies.Chars, subsp.?Similar to HypotTiymis azurea amelis,'^ but decidedlylarger; male with abdomen less extensively bluish; upper partssomewhat paler, less purplish blue, the pileum slightly more con-trasted with back; female resembling that of Hijpotliymis azureaamelis, but paler below, the abdomen conspicuously more whitish.Description.?Ty\:,e, adult male, No. 179437, U.S.N.M.; PuloBangkaru, Banjak Islands, western Sumatra, January, 1902; Dr. W.L. Abbott. Upper surface, throat, and breast rather light cyanineblue, the pileum perceptibly paler, the throat and breast barely so;a narrow frontal line at the base of the bill, a very small chin spot,a crescentic occipital patch, and a slightly crescentic bar on jugulumvelvety black ; wings and tail slate black, the wing-quills and rectricesbroadly margined externally with marine blue, the wing-coverts withcyanine blue; middle of lower abdomen white, almost pure; rest ofabdomen, sides, flanks, and crissum grayish or grayish white, heavilywashed with deep campanula blue; under wing-coverts exteriorlycyanine blue, otherwise slate gray, mixed a little with whitish;axillars pale grayish, the outer ones edged with deep campanula blue;thighs slate gray, overlaid with blue.Measurements.?Two males: Wing, 71.5-72 (average, 71.8); tail,70-72 (average, 71); exposed culmen, 10.5-11 (average, 10.8); tarsus,15.5-17 (average, 16.3) mm. One female: Wing, 69; tail, 68; ex-posed culmen, 9.5; tarsus, 16 mm.Type-locality.?Pulo Bangkaru, Banjak Islands, western Sumatra.Geograpliical distribution.?Banjak Islands, western Sumatra.The present form is larger than Hypothymis azurea propTiata, andin the male has the posterior lower parts, especially the crissum, morebluish, the latter being seldom strongly bluish in H. a. prpphata,always ( ?) so in H. a. isocara; axillars somewhat more grayish andmore extensively blue; pileum darker, less contrasted with back;blue of remaining upper parts and of under surface paler and lesspurplish. The female does not differ appreciably in color from thesame sex of //. a. prophata. From Hypothjmis a. gigantoptera ofthe Natuna Islands, H. a. isocara differs as from H. a. propliata,except that it is not larger. It may be distinguished from Hypo-thymis a. ponera, male, by its rather less purplish blue upper parts;the darker pileum less contrasted with back; the more extensivelybluish abdomen; the more grayish and more heavily blue-washedcrissum; and somewhat more grayish and somewhat more exten-sively blue axillars. Compared with Hijpotliymis azurea leucopTiila,^it is slightly larger; in the male the posterior lower parts, especiallythe crissum, are more grayish and more washed with blue; the "Seep. 608. & See p. 607. NO. 1803. HYPOTHYMIS AND CYANONYMPHA?OBERHOLSER. 607 axiilars more grayish and more extensively blue; and the upper parts,particularly the pileum, are rather less purplish. The colors of thefemale are the same as in H. a. leucopMla.This new form is apparently confined to the Banjak Islands.Birds from Pulo Tuanku and Pulo Bangkaru are identical in sizeand coloration. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea isocara examined. 6 to 608 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 39. paler, less purplish blue, the head darker, slightly less purplish blue,and not so much in contrast to the remaining upper surface; thecrissum pure white; and the axillars pure white, but slightly, if at all,washed with blue exteriorly. The female is apparently indistin-guishable from that of Hyjyothymis azurea prophata. In the white-ness of its posterior ventral surface Hypothymis a. leucopTiila is likeHypothijmis azurea azurea, but is easily distinguishable by its usuallylonger wing, less purphsh blue color, lighter back, rather darkerpileum, with consequently less contrast between head and back.Birds from South Pagi Island are identical with those from NorthPagi ; and Hypothymis a. leucopliila apparently does not range beyondthis group of islands. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea leucophila examined. 6 NO. 1803. HTPOTHYMTS AND CYANONYMPHA?OBERHOLSER. 609 with pale cyanine blue, especially on the outer ones; thighs slate grayalmost hidden by blue.Measurements.?Six males: Wing, 66-70 (average, 68.2); tail, 65-71.5 (average, 67.9); exposed culmen, 10-11 (average, 10.4); tarsus,14.5-17 (average, 16) mm. Two females: Wing, 63; tail, 63-64average, (63.5); exposed culmen, 11; tarsus, 15.5 mm.Type-localitij.?Nias Island.Geograj)liical distribution.?Nias Island, western Sumatra.The female of this form differs from that of Hypothymis azurealeucopMla in having the abdomen duller, more grayish, and lessextensively white. Compared with Hypothymis azurea propJiata, thepresent race is smaller; in the male the posterior lower parts are moreextensively blue, the crissum pale grayish, with usually a heavywash of blue; axillars more grayish and more washed with blue;pileum darker, not decidedly paler than the back; and the blue ofback sHghtly less purplish; in the female the white area on the abdo-men is less extensive, and duller, more grayish. From Hypotliymis a.ponera, the Batu Islands bird, the male of //. a. amelis may be dis-tinguished by its smaller size; usually darker, more purplish blue ofupper and lower parts, particularly the head, which is less contrastedwith the back; less whitish (more grayish) abdomen, which is moreheavily and more extensively overlaid with blue; much more grayishand blue-washed crissum; and axillars more grayish and more exten-sively overlaid with blue. The adult male of the present race some-what resembles the same sex of Hypotliymis azurea consohrina, but isslightly smaller ; has the pileum appreciably lighter than the back, in-stead of practically concolor; axillars and posterior under parts, includ-ing the crissum, paler, more whitish, and with less wash of blue. Theimmature male has the abdomen decidedly paler than in the same sexand age of H. a. consohrina. The adult male is like that of Hypotliymisazurea tytleri on the upper surface, but is paler, more whitish, andmuch less washed with blue on the abdomen and crissum, and is alsovery much smaller.The Nias form is to some extent intermediate between Hypothymisazurea propliata and H. a. consohrina, but is sufficiently distinct fromeither. As in most of the races of Hypotliymis azurea, there is notice-able individual variation in the whiteness of the middle abdomen, theextent of blue on the lower parts behind, and in the shade of theuppersurface. The immature male is very similar to the female, but isusually, if not always, more bluish both above and below.ProcN.M.vol.39?10 41 610 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 39. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea amelis examined. 6 'A NO. 1803. HYPOTIIYMIS AND CYANONYMPHA?OBERHOLSER. 611The small size, much more bluish posterior lower parts, and darker,more uniform upper surface of this form distinguish it from Hypo-thymis a. coeruleocepJiala, as do its much more bluish sides, flanks,abdomen, and crissum, less contrasted pileum, and usually less pur-plish upper parts from H. a. azurea. It is very similar to Hypothymisa. amelis, from Nias Island, but the male is lighter, somewhat less pur-plish blue both above and below; the abdomen is more whitish andless extensively washed with blue; the crissum less heavily bluish;the axillars more whitish and less tinged with blue.Females are less whitish on the abdomen than those of H. a. azurea,but are not otherwise different. Specimens from the following islandshave been examined: Nankauri, Great Nicobar, Kamorta, Trinkut,and Tilanchong. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea calocara examined.6 "A 612 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 39.The male of this well-marked form may be distinguished fromH. a. coeruleocepJiala by its darker, more purplish blue upper surfaceand anterior lower parts, wholly blue posterior lower parts; moregrayish and bluish axillars, and more nearly uniform upper surface;from H. a. azurea by larger size, blue abdomen, flanks, and crissum,rather paler upper surface, darker pileum less contrasted with theback, and more grayish, bluish axillars; from H. a. cdlocara and H. a.idiochroa by its darker, more purplish blue above and below, moreextensively and deeply bluish abdomen and crissum, more grayishand bluisli axillars, as well as additionally from the latter by darker,less contrasted pileum, and from the former by larger size; fromH. a. opisthocyanea by smaller size, more uniformly blue abdomen,less contrasted pileum, and more bluish and grayish axillars ; and fromH. a. forrestia by smaller size, blue posterior lower parts, lighterupper surface, except pileum, which is less contrasted with the back,and by more grayish and bluish axillars. The female of H. a. tytleriis darker on both back and breast and less whitish on abdomen thanthe same sex of H. a. prophata. An adult male from Little AndamanIsland seems to incline not at all toward Hypothymis a. idiochroafrom the island of Car Nicobar. Count Salvadori has recordedH. a. tytleri from Engano Island, '^ but the bird occurring there is, ofcourse, Hypothymis azurea richmondi.^ Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea tytleri examined. 6 CO NO. 1803. HYP0THYMI8 AND CYANONYMPHA?OBERHOLSEB. 613OeograpMcal distribution.?Simalur Island, western coast ofSumatra.Notwithstanding its geographical isolation, this form resemblesH. a. tytleri more closely than any other, but it averages much smaller,and has a slightly darker back and a decidedly darker pileum, whichis scarcely different in color from the back. Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea consobrina examined. 614 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 39. cyanine blue and Paris blue; rest of upper surface grayish seal brown;wings and tail fuscous, the latter with a slight bluish sheen exteriorly,the former edged with grayish seal brown, the bend of the wing andprimary coverts more or less bluish; breast and remainder of lowerparts slate gray, the middle of lower abdomen paler, the breast andupper abdomen washed with blue, heavily on the former, the sides,flanks, and crissum tinged with brown, most so on flanks; externallower wing-coverts blue like head, the others, together with axillars,slate gray washed with blue; thighs slate gray, washed with blue.Measurements.?Eleven males: Wing, 69.5-74.5 (average, 72.9);tail, 66-74 (average, 70.2); exposed culmen, 11-12.5 (average, 11.7);tarsus, 16.5-18 (average, 17.1) mm. Five females: Wing, 69-72.5(average, 70.1); tail, 63-69 (average, 66.4); exposed culmen, 11.5;tarsus, 17-18 (average, 17.3) mm.Type-locality.?Engano Island, western Sumatra.Geographical distribution.?Engano Island.The immature male of this race is practically identical with theadult female, and differs from the immature male of Hypotliymis a.consohrina in its darker, duller, more grayish (less whitish) posteriorlower parts, especially the middle of abdomen. From Hypotliymisazurea tytleri, of the Andaman Islands, with which it has been con-sidered identical," Hypotliymis a. riclimondi may be readily distin-guished in the adult male by its decidedly darker upper and lowerparts, particularly the abdomen, and by the almost entire lack ofcontrast between the color of pileum and of back; in the female bydarker coloration, especially of the blue areas above, and the grayishof the posterior lower parts, the middle of abdomen not at all, or butvery slightly, whitish.This new form is most nearly, allied to Hypotliymis azurea conso-hrina and H. a. tytleri, and is very distinct from the geographicallyintervening races. It is apparently confined to the island of Engano.Individual variation is most noticeable in the color of the pileum,which is occasionally lighter in contrast with the back, and on thelower abdomen, which is sometimes appreciably whitish medially.These differences, however, do not interfere with the characters ofthe subspecies as above given. "Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vol. 32, 1892, p. 129. NO. 1803. HYPOTHYMIS AND CYAN0NYMPHA?0BERH0L8ER. 615Following are detailed measurements of all the specimens examined: Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis azurea richmondi examined. 6 "A%