744 Mr. H. C. Robinson on Birds collected on tite 



Hypothymis azurea caeruleocephala, 



Hiipothijmis azurea prophaia Oberholser ; Gyldenstolpe, 

 p. 37. 



a-e. 3c?, 2?. Koh Chang I., S.E. Siam. 5-8 Dec, 

 1914. Wing, S 71-73 ; ? 71-72 ram. 



f-k, 4 J, 2?. Koh Kut I., S.E. Siam. 24-29 Dec, 



1914. Wing, $ 72-74 ; ? 71-5-73 mm. 



l,m. lc?',l?. Klong Menao, S.E. Siam. 10 Jan., 



1915. Wing, J 72; ? 71mm. 



" Iris dark ; orbital skin cobalt; bill cobalt ; feet slaty 

 blue."— C. B. K. 



Oberholser, more americario, has divided the species 

 generally known as H. azurea into a multitude of races on 

 which, in the absence of his specimens, it is impossible to 

 express an opinion in the majority of cases. It may be 

 noted, however, that his material, though collectively very 

 considerable, does not often comprise large series from the 

 separate areas and that many of his races are founded on 

 very limited numbers of specimens. Distinctions founded 

 on dimensions are apt to break down when large scries are 

 accumulated. 



Other features relied on, such as the extent of the black 

 on the crown and the size of the black neck-gorget, are much 

 affected by the " rnake'^ of the skin, while the tint of blue 

 on the upper and lower surface is very largely influenced 

 by the age of the plumage, as is shown by the very large 

 series of Malayan specimens available in the F.M.S. 

 Museums. 



Dealing with the present series, I have referred them 

 to H. a. ccETuleocephala on account of the purer white tint 

 of the flanks and centre of the abdomen, which are more 

 tinged with bluish grey in Malayan specimens of A. a. 

 prophata Oberholser. The scries from the diff'erent islands 

 differ slightly inter se, those from Koh Kut having a more 

 distinct black gorget in the male, while the throats of the 

 females are brighter blue than in those from the mainland 

 or from Koh Chang. 



I do not, however, care to add other names to the already 

 sufficiently extensive list of subspecies. 



