400 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.55. 



MEGAPODIUS NICOBARIENSIS NICOBARIENSIS BIyth. 



M[egapodius']. nicobariensis Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. 15, No. 169, 



1846, p. 52 (Nicobar Islands). 

 Megapodius trinkutensis Sharpe, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, vol. 13, 



No. 78, June, 1874, p. 448 (Trinkut Island, Nicobar Islands), 



Subspecific characters. — Coloration relatively light. 



Des&ii'ption.—K^ViM male, No. 178326, U.S.N.M. ; Katchall Island, 

 Nicobar Islands, February 19, 1901; Dr. W. L. Abbott. Pileiim 

 dull cinnamon brown; remainder of upper parts rather light 

 brownish olive ; tail mummy brown, verging toward Prout's brown ; 

 outer webs of primaries pale cinnamon brown; inner webs of 

 primaries and secondaries somewhat light sepia; outer webs 

 of secondaries, together with both w^ebs of tertials and of upper 

 wing-coverts, cinnamon brown verging to ochraceous tawny, the ter- 

 tials tinged with brownish olive; chin brownish white; throat and 

 sides of head between drab and hair brown; remaining lower parts 

 rather light Saccardo's umber, with edgings, particularly on pos- 

 terior portion, of light tawny olive, clay color, and dull cinnamon 

 buff; middle of lower breast and of abdomen with a pronounced 

 slaty gray tinge ; lining of wing dull tawny olive to pale sepia. 



Measurements. — Male^: Total length (in flesh), 381-406.4 (aver- 

 age, 392.4) mm.; wing, 206-230 (223.7); tail, 66-73.5 (69.9); ex- 

 posed culmen, 22-24.5 (23.6) ; bill from anterior end of nostril, 13- 

 14.5 (13.7) ; height of bill at base, 11-13 (12) ; tarsus, 66-69.5 (68.1) ; 

 middle toe without claw, 40.5-44.5 (42.8). 



Female 2: Total length (in flesh), 387.4-419 (average, 394.4) mm.; 

 wing, 222-233 (225.7) ; tail, 64-74 (68.9) ; exposed culmen, 22-24.5 

 (23.6) ; bill from anterior end of nostril, 13-14 (13.7) ; height of 

 bill at base, 11-13 (12.4) ; tarsus, 63.5-67.5 (66) ; middle toe without 

 claw, 41-44.5 (42.4). 



Type-locality. — Middle group of the Nicobar Islands. 



Geographic distribution. — Middle and northern Nicobar Islands. 



Remarhs. — This species was first discovered by Mr. P. Barbe, but 

 on which island is not known; from the description of the specimen, 

 however, evidently on one of the middle islands. The bird from 

 Trinkut Island was subsequently described by Dr. R. B. Sharpe,' 

 but it was found to be identical with the typical form. 



This race has been reported from Tillangchong, Camorta, Katchall, 

 Nankauri, Trinkut, Bompoka, and Treis, and probably occurs on 

 other islands in the middle and northern parts of the Nicobar group. 



1 Ten specimens, from the Islands of Katchall, Tillangchong, Nankauri, and Trinkut, In 

 the Nicobar group. 



* Nine specimens from the Islands of Katchall and Tillangchong. 



* Megapodius trinkutensis Sharpe, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, vol. 13, No. 78, 

 June, 1874, p. 448. 



