602. Hypothymis tytleri

602. Hypothymis tytleri.

The Andaman Black-naped Flycatcher.

Myiagra tytleri, Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 324; Ball, S. F. i, p. 68 ; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 217 ; id. N. & E. p. 190. Hypothymis occipitalis ( Vig.), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iv, p. 275 (part.). Hypothymis tytleri (Beavan), Hume, Cat. no. 290 ; Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 30.

Coloration. Resembles H. azurea. The male differs from the male of that species in having the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts of the same blue as the breast; the female similarly in having those parts dingy lilac-grey.

The differences pointed out above hold good in a considerable series of the Andamanese bird, and I think that it forms a species easily recognizable from the Continental and Nicobarese form. A richly-coloured Indian bird and a dull Andamanese bird may be difficult to separate, but such pairs of birds are not often met with and do not in my opinion affect the question. Hume recognizes the two species in his Catalogue.

In retaining the Andamanese form under Beavan's name I do so because I am not satisfied that any prior name applies to it with certainty. The forms from the Malay peninsula and the islands do not seem identical with the Andamanese bird, but rather to be referable to II. azurea.

Distribution. The Andaman Islands and the Great and Little Cocos.

Habits, &c. Davison found the nest of this species on 23rd April at Aberdeen, South Andaman, with three eggs. Both nest and eggs resembled those of H. azurea.