CINNYRIS SANGIRENSIS.
Sanghir Black Sun-bird.
Chalcostetha sangirensis, Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wissensch. in Wien, lxx. p. 124 (1 8 7 4 )— Sclater, Ibis, 1874,
p . 419.
Hermotimia sanghirensis, Salvad. A tti R. Accad. Torino, x. p. 233, pi. i. fig. 2 (1 874).—Id . Ann. Mus. Civic.
Genov, ix. p. 56, no. 10 (1 8 7 6 ).—Id . A tti R. Accad. Torino, xii. p. 311 (1877).
Cinnyris sangirensis, Shelley, Monograph o f th e Cinnyridse, p a r t v. (18 7 7 ).
T h e Sangir or Sanghir Islands are a little group lying to the north-east of Celebes, and between that
island and the Philippine archipelago. The ornithology of the group has not yet been worked out
completely; but as far as we know the facts at present, it is very closely related to that of Celebes, though
at the same time possessing several peculiar forms. The specimens which I figure are lent to me by my
excellent friend Dr. A. B. Meyer; and I have followed Captain Shelley, who is our best authority on the
family, in the nomenclature of the species. As there is nothing known concerning its habits, I transcribe
the account given by the last-named author in his ‘ Monograph : ’—“ This well-marked species belongs to
that section o f the * Hermotimia ’ group which comprises species with the metallic portions o f the back blue.
It may be distinguished from its allies by the general brownish shade of its plumage, and by the bronzy
copper-colour o f its throat, in which latter character it • appears to be the species which most nearly
approaches to Chalcostetha insignis. Like the Celebean forms C. grayi and C. porphyrolcemus, it has the
sides o f the metallic throat margined with distinct bands o f steel-blue, which are not met with in the other
members o f this group; and they also resemble each other in the absence of the metallic colouring on the
scapulars and median series o f the wing-coverts; but this latter character is not confined to these three
species.
“ The present bird was first described by Dr. Meyer from specimens collected by himself at Siao, one of
the Sangir or Sanghir islands, a small group situated to the north o f C elebes; and it appears to be exclusively
confined to that archipelago.”
A long account is given by Captain Shelley o f a series o f birds sent to Count Salvadori from the Sanghir
Islands, which it is not now necessary to reproduce, as it concerns the changes o f plumage which the bird
goes through ; and I therefore refer my readers to the Monograph itself.
The following descriptions are from Captain Shelley’s book :—
Adult male. Brownish black with a purple glo ss; the forehead, crown, and nape metallic golden green ;
least wing-coverts, a few o f the smallest scapulars, the lower back, and upper tail-coverts steel-blue, shaded
with violet and green ; tail-feathers edged with lilac-bronze; throat coppery bronze, margined with steel-
blue on the sides o f the chin and upper half of the throat; bill and legs black ; irides dark brown.
Total length 4*3 inches, culmen 0*65, wing 2*4, tail 1*75, tarsus 0*6.
Adult female. Upper half o f the head and neck, back, and scapulars olive-yellow; upper tail-coverts
black; wings dark brown, all the feathers broadly edged with olive-green; tail black, with white tips,
broadest on the outer feathers ; cheeks yellower than the crown; underparts sulphur-yellow, slightly tinted
with olive on the sides o f the breast, the under tail-coverts very pale yellow; under surface o f the wings
brown, with the inner margins o f the quills and the coverts white, the latter shaded with yellow; bill, legs,
and irides dark brown.
Total length 4 inches, culmen 0*6, wing 2*05, tail 1*4, tarsus 0*6.
The Plate represents two males and a female, of the natural size, for the loan o f which I am indebted to
Dr. Meyer.