112 ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS, BIRDS RIUGWAY. 



and back slightly darker centrally, the olive color paler on tbe rump; 

 wings and tail dull grayish dusky with lighter olive-grayish edgings, 

 these dull unify on middle and greater wing-coverts; supraloral space 

 and malar region pale dull grayish buffy; chin and throat similar but 

 paler and more grayish; rest of under parts pale buffy fading into 

 nearly white on belly; sides and flanks tinged with grayish olive, and 

 chest very faintly flaiutnulated with the same. Bill wholly grayish 

 black ; legs and feet dusky brown. Length (skin), 4.60; wing, 2.70; tail, 

 1 65; cuhnen, .50; gonys, .30; bill from rictus, .50; depth at base, .35; 

 tarsus, .85; middle toe, .58. 



Family TYRAKNTD^E. 

 27. Pyrocephalus nanus Gould. 



Indefatigable Island, one specimen; James Island, five specimens; 

 Charles Island, six specimens ; Chatham Island, two specimens; Abing- 

 don Island, two specimens. 



There are some very marked differences of coloration and measure- 

 ments between specimens from different islands, which will probably 

 necessitate the recognition of several forms ; but most of the skins I 

 have for examination are either in very worn or molting plumage, so 

 that a satisfactory comparison is out of the question. 



The two examples from Chatham Island, both adult males, are much 

 the smallest, the wing measuring only 2.30, the tail 2.00, the exposed 

 culmen .40, and the tarsus .65, while those from other islands measure, 

 wing 2.50-2.65, tail 2.15-2.25, exposed culmen .45-.50, and tarsus .65-.T5 

 (averaging more than .70). As to color, they are of a lighter brown 

 above, and paler red beneath, although the crest is as intensely colored 

 as in other specimens. 



The two adult males from Abingdon Island differ conspicuously from 

 all the others, those from James Island included, in the hue of the red, 

 which on the under parts is of a decided orange cast, or intermediate 

 between orange-chrome and flame scarlet,* while on others the hue is a 

 rich vermilion. 



The adult female from James Island has the under parts, except chin 

 and throat,which are white, clear naples yellow, deepest on the belly, the 

 breast very narrowly and indistinctly streaked with grayish brown, while 

 in the two from Charles Island the under parts are buff-yellow, a fe- 

 male from Indefatigable Island being very similar. These females (from 

 last two localities) agree very well in color with the figure in the Zoology 

 of the Beagle (plate 7), although the description in that work says the 

 under parts of the female are " pale buff." 



The locality from which the types of P. nanus were obtained is unfor- 

 tunately not known, and I am not able to ascertain from descriptions 

 whether the ordinary or most widely distributed larger form or the 

 diminutive Chatham Island race are to be considered the same as true 

 P. nanus. It is probable, however, that the larger form may be properly 

 * Of ray "Nomenclature of Colors." 



