NO. 1803. HTPOTHYMTS AND CYANONYMPHA—OBERHOLSER. 609 



with pale cyanine blue, especially on the outer ones; thighs slate gray 

 almost hidden by blue. 



Measurements. — Six males: Wing, 66-70 (average, 68.2); tail, 65- 

 71.5 (average, 67.9); exposed culmen, 10-11 (average, 10.4); tarsus, 

 14.5-17 (average, 16) mm. Two females: Wing, 63; tail, 63-64 

 average, (63.5); exposed culmen, 11; tarsus, 15.5 mm. 



Type-localitij. — Nias Island. 



Geograj)liical distribution. — Nias Island, western Sumatra. 



The female of this form differs from that of Hypothymis azurea 

 leucopMla in having the abdomen duller, more grayish, and less 

 extensively white. Compared with Hypothymis azurea propJiata, the 

 present race is smaller; in the male the posterior lower parts are more 

 extensively blue, the crissum pale grayish, with usually a heavy 

 wash of blue; axillars more grayish and more washed with blue; 

 pileum darker, not decidedly paler than the back; and the blue of 

 back sHghtly less purplish; in the female the white area on the abdo- 

 men is less extensive, and duller, more grayish. From Hypotliymis a. 

 ponera, the Batu Islands bird, the male of //. a. amelis may be dis- 

 tinguished by its smaller size; usually darker, more purplish blue of 

 upper and lower parts, particularly the head, which is less contrasted 

 with the back; less whitish (more grayish) abdomen, which is more 

 heavily and more extensively overlaid with blue; much more grayish 

 and blue-washed crissum; and axillars more grayish and more exten- 

 sively overlaid with blue. The adult male of the present race some- 

 what resembles the same sex of Hypotliymis azurea consohrina, but is 

 slightly smaller ; has the pileum appreciably lighter than the back, in- 

 stead of practically concolor; axillars and posterior under parts, includ- 

 ing the crissum, paler, more whitish, and with less wash of blue. The 

 immature male has the abdomen decidedly paler than in the same sex 

 and age of H. a. consohrina. The adult male is like that of Hypotliymis 

 azurea tytleri on the upper surface, but is paler, more whitish, and 

 much less washed with blue on the abdomen and crissum, and is also 

 very much smaller. 



The Nias form is to some extent intermediate between Hypothymis 

 azurea propliata and H. a. consohrina, but is sufficiently distinct from 

 either. As in most of the races of Hypotliymis azurea, there is notice- 

 able individual variation in the whiteness of the middle abdomen, the 

 extent of blue on the lower parts behind, and in the shade of theupper 

 surface. The immature male is very similar to the female, but is 

 usually, if not always, more bluish both above and below. 

 ProcN.M. vol.39— 10 41 



