676 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. XXXV. 



RAMPHALCYON CAPENSIS CYANOPTERYX, new subspecies. 



Subspeciftc characters. — Similar to Ramphalcyon capensis capensis, 

 from Java, but larger; pileum darker, less ochraceous, and distinctly 

 brown-capped ; upper back, wings, and tail more bluish. 



Description.— Type, adult male, No. 179210, U.S.N.M.; Tapanuli 

 Bay, northwestern Sumatra, March 22, 1902; Dr. W. L. Abbott. 

 Pileum and sides of head bister brown, much mixed with ochraceous, 

 but forming a distinct cap ; upper back, wing-coverts, and upper tail- 

 coverts bluish myrtle green; wing-quills and rectrices sepia brown, 

 their exposed surfaces when closed mostly greenish indigo blue; 

 lower back and rump turquoise blue ; chin cream buff ; upper throat 

 buff; remainder of lower surface, together with a broad cervical col- 

 lar, rather light tawny ochraceous; lining of wing ochraceous buff. 



Measurements are as follows: 



" Measured in the flesh by the collector. Dr. W. 1.. Abbott. 



" Type. 



Geographical distribution. — Northwestern Sumatra, with Pulo 

 Mansalar; northeastern Sumatra south at least to the Besitan River. 



That the bird from northwestern Sumatra is so unlike that of the 

 southeastern part of this island is an interesting discovery; and, 

 curiously enough, this new form is more bluish on the back, wings, 

 and tail than any of the races by which it is surrounded. It may 

 be distinguished from Ramphalcyon capensis malaccensis by its paler 

 pileum, with usually more admixture of ochraceous, more bluish 

 upper back, wings, and tail, lighter lower parts, the chin and throat 

 less uniform with the rest, and slightly greater average size. It re- 

 sembles Ramphalcyon capeitxi* nesoeca, but has the pileum darker 

 and usually with more ochraceous. the back, wings, and tail much 

 more bluish, and the lower parts more deeply colored. It differs 

 greatly, however, from Ramphalcyon capensis isoptera in its darker, 

 more ochraceous pileum, much brighter and more bluish back, wings, 

 and tail, and more deeply colored lower parts. 



It is smaller than Ramphalcyon capensis sodalis, has a darker 

 pileum more mixed with ochraceous, and is more bluish on the back, 

 wings, and tail. From Ramphalcyon c. simalurensis it differs still 



