596 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 39. 



HYPOTHYMIS AZUREA COERXJLEOCEPHALA (Sykes). 



Musdcapa coeruleocephala Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1832, p. 85 (Deccan, 



India). 

 'iMyiagra torquata Swainson, Monogr. Flycatchers, 1838, p. 208 (no locality). 

 Siphia styani Hartlaub, Abh. Nat. Ver. Bremen, vol. 16, pt. 2, 1898, p. 248 



(Hoihow and Nodouha, Hainan Island). 



Chars, suhsp. — Similar to Hypoihymis azurea azurea, but averaging 

 larger; posterior lower parts of the male rather more extensively 

 white; upper surface lighter, less purpHsh blue. 



Measurements. — Two males: Wing, 70-72 (average, 71); tail, 

 69.5-71 (average, 70.3); exposed culmen, 10-10.5 (average, 10.3); 

 tarsus, 15.5-16 (average, 15.8). Three females: Wing, 68-72 (aver- 

 age, 70); tail, 69.5-74.5 (average, 71.3); exposed culmen, 10.5-12.5 

 (average, 11.3); tarsus, 14-17 (average, 15.5) mm. 



Type-locality. — Deccan, India. 



Geographical distribution. — India north to the Himalayas, including 

 Nepal ; east in Burmah to Pegu and Tenasserim ; Cochin China ; and 

 Hainan. 



This form is closely related to Hypothymis azurea azurea, and 

 undoubtedly is but subspecifically distinct, since to the southward 

 along the Malay Peninsula it passes into Hypothymis a. prophata, 

 which in turn intergrades with Hypothymis a. azurea. 



Birds from Pegu and Tenasserim are intermediate between coeru- 

 leocephala and prophata, but belong with the former. 



Females of H. a. coeruleocephala are larger than those of H. a. azurea, 

 are paler above, and somewhat more extensively white on the 

 posterior lower parts. « 



The earliest name for this race is undoubtedly Muscicapa coeru- 

 leocepliala Sykes,'^ for both Muscicapa azurea Boddaert ^ and Mus- 

 cicapa caerulea Gmelin *= refer exclusively to the Philippine bird, as 

 I have above shown. 



Not having examined any specimens from Hainan, I follow Doctor 

 Harterf^ in referring the bird from this island to the present form, 

 although from geographical considerations and from the measure- 

 ments given by Hartlaub in his description of Siphia styani ^ 1 should 

 be incHned to call it Hypothymis azurea azurea. 



oProc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1832, p. 85. 



&Tabl. Planch. Enlum., 1783, p. 41. 



cSyst. Nat., vol. 1, pt. 2, 1788, p. 943. 



<^Nov. Zool., vol. 17, 1910, p. 225. 



«Abh. Nat. Ver. Bremen, vol. 16, pt. 2, 1898, p. 248. 



