690 PEOF. NEWTON ON A NEW SPECIES OF DBEPANIS. [Nov. 7, 



ClENOOHILrS PILIPAiPrS. 



Epipona pilipalpa. Spin. I.e. p. 252 (1851). 

 This species was based on a single female specimen. I have 

 never seen it. 



7. On a new Species of Drepanis discovered by Mr. R. C. L. 

 Perkins. By Alfred Newton, F.Z.S. (Communicated 

 on behalf of the Joint Committee, appointed by the 

 E-oyal Society and the British Association, for the 

 Zoological Exploration of the Sandwich Islands.) 



[Received November 7, 1893.] 



The severe labours undergone by Mr. Perkins, who has for some 

 months past been exploring Molokai, one o£ the Sandwich Islands, 

 have met with a suitable reward in the unexpected discovery of a 

 new species of Drepanis, of which he has sent home several speci- 

 mens ; and, in describing it at his reqi^.esfc, I feel bound to express 

 the satisfaction of the Joint Committee under whose direction he 

 has been working, coupled with my own regret that his modesty 

 hinders him from introducing his discovery to the world. Its 

 sombre plumage and the sad fate that too probably awaits the 

 species induce me to propose for it the name of 



Dbepanis funebea. 



Diagn, — Atra, remigibus manualihus extern^ grisei-limhatis, rostra 

 valde clecurvato, maxilla mandibulam multo transeunte. 



Long. tot. 8 ; al(v 4 ; catid. 2"75 ; rostri cidoninis 2*5 ; tarsi 1*25 

 wicc. 



Bab. in montibus sylvestribus insulss Molokai. 



The sexes are outwardly alike. Mr. Perkins states that the nasal 

 opercula and the base of the biU between the nostrils are yellow, 

 especially in the young ; the irides " pale yellowish-brown." 



It would be easy to point out characters that in the eyes of 

 some writers would justify the foundation of a new genus for this 

 bird. At first sight the configuration of its bill naturally suggests 

 the genus Hemignatlius ; but closer inspection shows that in its 

 breadth and height at the base it whoUy agrees ^\ith Drepanis, 

 as restricted by modern authors, only differing therefrom in its 

 exaggerated maxilla. Some inequahty in the length of the man- 

 dibles is, however, exhibited by D.pacifica, and the examples of the 

 new species sent by Mr. Perkins show no Httle variability in this 

 respect. For the rest it is distinct enough, its almost lustreless 

 black plumage not being reHeved by any yellow feathers, though 

 the patch of that colour at the base of the maxilla must be a 

 conspicuous feature in life. 



