220 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



are similar in color, but the latter have the wings and tail somewhat 

 shorter. Adults seem to vary in depth of color with age. The imma- 

 ture bird is dull black above and brownish below while red feathers 

 are beginning to show on the back and about the head. 



Two male birds secured on Uala, 16 February, are not quite 

 typical of this form. The red of the plumage is slightly paler, ap- 

 proaching M. r. dichromata from Ponape. As these specimens from 

 Uala agree otherwise with the large series from Kusaie they are placed 

 with that form for the present. With a larger series more striking 

 differences may be apparent. 



Cinnyris rubrater of Lesson is usually quoted as from Voy. Coq. 



1826, p. 678. According to Sherborn and Woodward (Ann. mag. nat. 

 hist, 1901, ser. 7, 7, p. 391) Voy. Coq., 1, pt. 2, p. 678, should date 

 from 1830. This makes the first reference date from the Diction- 

 naire des science naturelles, 50, p. 30, as this volume appeared in 



1827. The description there given is practically identical with that 

 appearing under the later reference. In his description Lesson says, 

 "cette espece, qui existe au Museum d'histoire naturelle, habite les 

 lies Philipines, oil I'a trouvee M. Dussumier, et I'ile d'Oualan, oil j'en 

 ai tue un grand nombre d'individus." In assigning it to the Philip- 

 pines Lesson was in error as the species is confined to the Ladrone, 

 Pelew, and Caroline Islands. His statement may have basis in the 

 fact that vessels proceeding to the Philippines in the old days usually 

 touched at Guam, so that M. Dussumier may have seen and collected 

 the species there. From this Lesson may have attributed statements 

 or specimens emanating from M. Dussumier to the Philippine Islands, 

 as it was there that that naturalist carried on the major part of his 

 work. The type-locality must stand as Ualan (known now as Kusaie) 

 from which the large series in the present collection came. 



83. Myzomela rubrata dichromata, subsp. nov. 



Characters. — Similar to Myzomela rubrata rubrata (Lesson) but 

 black markings of head deeper in color and more extensive, co^'ering 

 orbital ring, lower eyelids, antorbital and loral region, and extending 

 around the base of the bill on forehead and chin, red of plumage 

 slightly paler. 



TyiJc.— V. S. N. M. 212,413. Adult male. Polynesia: Eastern 

 Caroline Islands; Ponape, 11 February, 1900. C. H. Townsend. 



Description. — Wings, scapulars, a broken band across shoulders. 



