592 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MU8EU2I. 



VOL. 39. 



HYPOTHYMIS ABBOTTI Richmond. 



Hypothymis abbotti Richmond, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. 15, 1902, p. 189 (Pulo 

 Babi, 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 chin 

 spot and the narial bristles black. Female blackish sepia brown, 

 washed with marine blue, less so on wing-quills and tail, the whole 

 head 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 the 

 lack of black jugular band and black occipital crescent, it closely 

 resembles. In its lack of black on occiput and jugulum it agrees with 

 Hypothymis rowleyi, but in size and color is very different. The 

 feathers of the jugulum are peculiarly truncated, and end in a sharp 

 line posteriorly, as in Hypothymis azurea and its forms; and some- 

 times there are small hidden black spots on a few of the feathers at 

 this line of demarcation between the square ended feathers of the 

 jugulum and the normal feathers of the breast. Thus Hypothymis 

 abhotti seems to be virtually a Hypothymis azurea richmondi that has 

 lost practically all the black of occiput and jugulum, not, as might at 

 first sight appear, a close ally of Hypothymis rowleyi or Hypothymis 

 puella 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 those 

 from Pulo Babi. An immature female is essentially like the single 

 adult female. 



Measurements of specimens of Hypothymis abbotti examined. 



a See p. 613. 



6 Measured In the flesh by the collector. 



c Type. 



