NO. 1182. BIBBS COLLECTED IN LIBERIA— 0BERH0L8EB. 33 



ANTHREPTES COLLARIS HYPODILUS (Jardine) 



Nectarinia liypodilus Jardine, Contr. Orn., 1851, p. 153. 



Two specimens, male and female. "Bill and feet black, iris brown." 



Male. — Length, 109.2 mm. ; extent, 148.5 mm. 



Female. — Length, 102 mm.; extent, 144 mm. The latter shows indi- 

 cations of a molt not quite completed. 



This species is apparently divisible into three well defined geograph- 

 ical races. In southern Africa occurs Anthreptes collaris collaris; in 

 southeastern Africa Anthreptes collaris zambesianus, and in the western 

 part of the continent Anthreptes collaris hypodilus. True collaris dif- 

 fers from both of the other forms in having the secondaries, greater 

 and primary coverts edged externally with golden olive instead of 

 metallic green; the posterior lower parts are much darker and duller 

 yellow than in zambesiatia ; less orange yellow and more shaded with 

 olivaceous laterally than in hypodilus. From hypodilus, with which it 

 has usually been considered identical, zambesianus may be readily dis- 

 tinguished by the much paler, less orange tinted posterior under sur- 

 face, as well as by the paler shade of the exterior margins to second- 

 aries, primary ^nd greater wing-coverts. 



ANTHREPTES IDIUS, new species. 



Chars, sp. — Similar to Anthreptes fraseri, but decidedly smaller ; the 

 outermost primary scarcely more than half as long; rather darker, and 

 much less yellowish olive green throughout. This most noticeable on 

 wings and tail. 



Description. — Type, male (immature?), No. 161807, F.S.K.M.; Mount 

 Coffee, Liberia, March 16, 1897 ; R. P. Currie. Upper parts dark olive 

 green, rather duller on the head; wings fuscous, the lesser coverts, 

 edgings of the others and of the quills, like the back; tail-feathers 

 greenish olive, with broad olive green exterior margins. Sides of head 

 and neck olive green; eye ring olive yellow; entire under surface deep 

 olive yellow, almost uniform, but rather paler on chin, and shaded 

 with olive green on sides and flanks; lining of wing olive yellow. 

 "Bill dark horn, paler beneath; feet olive green." Length, 122 mm.; 

 extent, 178 mm. 



In details of structure and in pattern of coloration this new species 

 is identical with Anthreptes fraseri, and does not need comparison with 

 any of the other species of the genus. There is a possibility that *fZttts 

 may eventually turn out to be merely a geographical race of fraseri, 

 but until such shall be proved to be the case it may stand as a species. 

 The single specimen procured by Mr. Currie is sexed male, and if this 

 be correct the absence of pectoral tufts, notwithstanding the lack of 

 any other evidence, would seem to indicate immaturity; for it is quite 

 probable, though of course not certain, that the adult male would, like 

 that of fraseri, possess these ornaments. 

 Proc. N. M. vol. xxii 3 



