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Show 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 m y conclusions as final; nor does Dr. Stejneger, as the following 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 have 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 iu the same manner; bill bluish black, broader at the base and stouter generally than in any other species of the genus. Hab. Oahu. Provisional Key to the genus Chasiempis. a1. Wing-markings pure white. Bill bluish black. bl. Upper parts of the body deep smoky grey Ch. dolei, Stejn. b2. Upper parts of the body brown; forehead, crown of the head, and breast bright chestnut. Ch. ridgwayi, Stejn. [Ibis, 1885, pi. i. fig. 1.] b3. Breast brown, streaked with black; white markings on the 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. a2. Wing-markings tawny, or " ferruginous white." Bill horn-colour, yellow towards the base of the mandible. c1. Breast light tawny with no trace of black; upper parts of the body bright tawny, as also are the sides of the head and ear-coverts |
