1886.] CAPT. R. G. W. RAMSAY ON A NEW COPSYCHUS. 123 



lemon ; the hind wings are always yellower than in the typical form, 

 in some specimens being nearly as dark as in the males. The markings 

 of the underside of the hind wings are very indistinct, they are 

 usually of a greyish-green tint, but sometimes approach a rusty-red 

 colour which is found in the typical form, although both forms 

 occur in Algeria. 



This distinct local form I took at Mogador in March 1885. It 

 was somewhat common at a little distance from the town ; the 

 females, as is always the case in this genus, being much scarcer 

 than the males. 



I have only been deterred from describing this variety as a new 

 species by the kindness of M. C. Oberthiir in forwarding me a 

 specimen of A. eupheno from Central Algeria, which is intermediate 

 between the above-desci ibed variety and the type. 



Similar cases of the two sexes (usually very different) approaching 

 the same form of colouring are not uncommon ; for example — Lyccena 

 alexis, in many localities ; Hepialis humuli, in Shetland ; Odones- 

 tris potatoria, in which it is not unusual to find males with the 

 paler colouring of the females, and females possessed of the darker 

 tint of the males. 



6. On a new Species of Bird of the genus Copsychus. 

 By R. G. Waedlaw Ramsay, F.Z.S., F.L.S. 



[Eeceived February 2, 1886.] 



Among a few birds which I obtained some months ago out of a 

 collection made by Mr. Harry Pryer at Elopura, in N.E. Borneo, 

 are examples of a very interesting and hitherto undescribed species 

 of the genus Copsychus. 



Mr. R. B. Sharpe, in his ' Catalogue of the Birds in the 

 British Museum,' has recognized three good species of Copsychus, 

 viz. : — 



1. C. mindanensis. 



2. C. seychellarum. 



3. C. saularis. 



Under the latter he treats as local races C. musicus and C. amoenus. 



I am inclined to doubt the propriety of uniting C. amoenus to 

 C. saularis, and prefer to keep it distinct. 



The new species, which I propose to name Copsychus niger, is of 

 about the same size as C. amoenus, from which it differs in having a 

 much smaller amount of white on the wing-coverts and none on the 

 secondaries and in having the tail entirely black. 



In its general appearance it more resembles C. seychellarum,wh.\c\ 

 however, has its black plumage glossed with green instead of blue as 

 in C. niger and the other species of the genus. Length 92, wing 

 4-35, tarsus 1*25, tail 4*5, bill from gape 1'25 inches. 



