CINNYRIS MY SO REN SI S.
Mysore-Island Black Sunbird.
Chalcostetha aspasia, vai*, mysoremis, Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. in Wien, lxx. p . 124 (1 8 7 4 ).—Sclater,
Ibis, 1874, p. 419.
Hermotimia mysorensis, Salvadori, A tti R. Accad. Torino, x. pp. 208,224 (18 7 4 ), xii. p. 301 (1877).
Cinnyris mysorensis, Shelley, Monograph o f th e Cinnyridce, p a r t v. (1877);
It is now seven years ago since we first began to get some insight into the mysteries of the large islands
which are situated in the Bay o f Geelvink in North-western New Guinea. During Mr. Wallace’s travels in
that part o f the world he had been unable to penetrate to these islands, the natives of which had a bad
reputation for hospitality; and it fell to the lot o f Baron von Rosenberg to send home the first birds to the
Leiden Museum. Many fine birds from Jobi, Mafoor, and Miosnoum were sent by him; and these
researches were still further pursued by Dr. Meyer, who collected largely in these islands and increased
our knowledge o f their ornithology greatly. Every thing seems to point to the fact that, whereas Jobi is
an island which contains a considerable number o f peculiar species, it is impregnated with a large number of
New-Guinea birds, while Mysore and Mafoor seem to be more distinct as regards their avifauna.
Nothing is known o f the economy o f the present beautiful little Sunbird; and I transcribe the following
remarks o f Captain Shelley, who writes in his ‘ Monograph —
“ This form is nearly related to C. aspasia; and I place it in the green-backed division of the ‘ Hermotimia
’ group: yet it much depends upon the light in which we view these feathers, as to whether the green
or blue shade predominates; in this respect, therefore, it may be readily distinguished from C. aspasia,
as well as in the greater extent o f the metallic throat. It also differs from typical specimens o f that bird
in having the crown o f a darker colour, and the throat almost pure lilac: but these parts in C. aspasia vary
to a certain extent in individual specimens, as may be seen in my article on that species.
“ The present bird has only been found on Mysore, the large outer island o f the Bay of Geelvink, where
it was first collected by Dr. Meyer, who pointed out its specific characters.”
The following description o f the adult male is given by Captain Shelley:—
Black with a deep-blue glo ss; the entire crown metallic bluish emerald-green; the least and median
series of wing-coverts, scapulars, lower half o f the back, and the upper tail-coverts metallic green very
strongly shaded with blue; the tail-feathers and a few of the outer greater wing-coverts edged with the
same metallic bluish green ; chin and throat rich metallic lilac, and extending further on the chest than in
. C. aspasia; bill and legs black; irides dark brown. Total length 4*6 inches, culmen 0*8, wing 2*5, tail
1 '7, tarsus 0*65.
The adult female and young male resemble those o f C. aspasia.
In the Plate I have represented two males and a female, from typical specimens lent to me by Dr. Meyer.