1891.] MR. S. B. WILSON ON THE GENUS CHASIEMPIS. 165 



paper by which the investigation of this difficult genus has been 

 greatly promoted. Dr. Sclater gives two coloured figures, fig. 1 

 being taken from one of the two specimens obtained by the 

 ' Challenger' Expedition at Hilo, Hawaii, in August 1875; while 

 fig. 2 is from a skin obtained by Dr. Sclater from Verreaux of Paris, 

 and presented to the British Museum. These two specimens he 

 figures under the name of Chasiempis sandwichensis, taking them to 

 be the male and female of the same species. He also considers 

 Chasiempis sclateri of Ridgway to be identical with fig. 2. 



However, as the material I have had to work upon, though of 

 large extent, is in some ways incomplete, I do not feel justified in 

 giving my conclusions as final ; nor does Dr. Stejneger, as the fol- 

 lowing extract from his letter to me will show. He says, " I consider 

 that my conclusions are only provisional ; and also that they are the 

 only ones that can be properly drawn up from the material at my 

 disposition now ; . . . . additional material might alter my views 

 considerably." 



On one point, however. Dr. Stejneger and I are quite decided — the 

 status of one of the species inhabiting Oahu. This is distinct beyond 

 any doubt ; and, being so, I liave named it after my friend Mr. 

 Francis Gay, of Makaweli, a gentleman whose knowledge of the 

 Avifauna of his native islands is very considerable and to whose 

 assistance I owe much of my success whilst exploring the island of 

 Kauai. 



I will now give a short description of the chief distinctive 

 characters of Chasiempis gayi. 



Chasiempis gayi. 



Breast brown, streaked with black ; tail-feathers with white 

 markings occupying only half the extent they do in Ch. ridgwayi, 

 though graduated in size from the outer feathers in the same 

 manner; bill bluish black, broader at the base and stouter generally 

 than in any other species of the genus. 



Hah. Oahu. 



Provisional Key to the genus Chasiempis. 



a}. Wing-markings pure white. Bill bluish black. 



b^. Upper parts of the body deep smoky grey Ch. dolei, Steja. 



6^. Upper parts of the body brown ; forehead, 



crown of the head, and breast bright chestnut. Ch. ridgwayi, Stejn. 



[Ibis, 1885, pi. i. fig. 1.] 



b^. Breast brown, streaked with black ; white 



markings on tlie tail-feathers occupying only 



about half the extent they do in Ch. ridgwayi ; 



bill stouter and broader at the base than in 



any other species Ch. gayi, sp. nov. 



a^. Wing-markings tawny, or " ferruginous white." 



Bill horn-colour, yellow towards the base of the 



'mandible. 



c^. Breast light tawny with no trace of black; 



uppei- parts of the body bright tawny, as also 



are the sides of the head and ear-coverts ; 



