Mindoro (Steere Exp.); Palawan (Whitehead, Steere Exp.). Borneo.

“Adult male.—Head and back of neck deep ochraceous, the latter rather deeper in color; upper part of the back, scapulars, and lesser wing-coverts rich blue; the median and greater coverts and the outer aspect of the primaries rich ultramarine, inner secondaries entirely of this color; tail ultramarine above, black beneath; under surface of body deep rich ochraceous, a little lighter on throat and sides of face. ‘Bill and feet coral-red; iris chocolate.’ (Everett.) Length, 330; culmen, 76; wing, 147; tail, 84; tarsus, 11.” (Sharpe.)

“Included in this list chiefly on the authority of Dr. Sharpe, who identifies a bird collected by Dr. Steere as P. leucocephala (=javana). Mr. Whitehead speaks of ‘two specimens’ secured by himself, and refers to the fact that the bird was discovered by Dr. Steere in the Island. It is our opinion that the Mindoro bird is P. gouldi, and we doubt the correctness of Dr. Steere’s identification of the bird collected by the Steere Expedition in Palawan. It might well happen that an occasional specimen of P. javana should find its way into Palawan, but there is little doubt that P. gouldi is the common species there.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Cuming); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Porter); Palawan (Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., White).

“Adult (type of species).—Entire head and neck, as well as the whole of the under surface of the body, rich ochraceous; upper part of back, scapulars, wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts, and tail bluish green; quills and tail-feathers rather more blue; entire back and rump silvery cobalt. Length, 330; culmen, 81; wing, 152; tail, 89; tarsus, 13.” (Sharpe.)

Iris dark brown; bill and legs bright scarlet; nails dark brown; eyelids scarlet. A male from Mindoro is 343 in length; wing, 143; tail, 89; culmen, 85; tarsus, 15.

Individuals of this species are often found near the seashore where they feed on small crabs; at other times they are fairly common in mangrove swamps. A nest found in Mindoro on April 18, 1905, was excavated in a deserted termites’ nest which was fastened to a tree at about 9 meters from the ground. The three incubated eggs were glossy white and measured 37.8 by 27.6; 39.8 by 28.9 and 39.6 by 28.9.

“In Volume XVII of the Catalogue of Birds, P. gouldi is recorded from Panay, the specimen having been collected by the Challenger expedition. This specimen seems to have been identified with some doubt as P. gigantea by Lord Walden, Proceedings of the Zoological Society (1877), 536. It would seem altogether probable that this identification was correct, as P. gigantea has since been repeatedly found in the central Philippines.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Ba-rí-ta, Ticao.

Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Lapac (Guillemard); Leyte (Everett); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Murray, Steere, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Goodfellow, Celestino); Malanipa (Murray); Negros (Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Panay (Murray, Bourns & Worcester); Salok (Meyer); Samal (Goodfellow); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Sibutu (Everett); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Burbidge, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).

Adult male.—Back, rump, wings, and tail as in P. gouldi, but head, neck, and entire under parts very much lighter in color, being pale ochraceous-buff. Wing, 155; tail, 92; culmen from base, 82; bill from nostril, 69.

Adult female.—Similar to the male. Bill bright scarlet, blackish at tip; iris brown; eyelids and legs scarlet; nails dark horn-brown. A specimen from Ticao measures: Length, 370; wing, 159; tail, 93; culmen, 88; tarsus, 18.

Immature.—Differs from the adult in having buff of lower parts darker and the breast-feathers narrowly edged with dark brown forming crescentic marks. The bill and legs are much duller than those of the adult.

“Abundant along the seashore and the banks of large fresh-water streams in the islands indicated. P. gigantea is a very tough bird, and will carry off a pretty good-sized load of shot. Ten specimens measure 379 in length; wing, 153; tail, 93; culmen, 83; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 35. Iris dark brown; feet red to dark red; bill dirty red to dark red.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Su-sul′-bot, Manila; ma-min-dí-ta, Calayan; sa-cal′, Lubang.

Balabac (Steere Exp., Everett); Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Bantayan (McGregor); Batan (McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor), Cagayancillo (McGregor); Cagayan Sulu (McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cuyo (McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Everett); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Cuming, Meyer, Everett, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Celestino, Goodfellow); Mindoro (Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Porter); Negros (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Palawan (Lempriere, Platen, Whitehead, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, White); Panay (Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Verde (McGregor). Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Burmese provinces, Moluccas and Greater Sunda Islands, China, Hainan.

Adult male.—Upper parts, including wings, dark greenish blue; back, rump, and tail-coverts light cobalt-blue; feathers of head banded with cobalt; median wing-coverts tipped with cobalt; lores and a band to ear-coverts deep ferruginous, followed by a white patch on side of neck; a wide band from lower mandible to below white patch, greenish blue, spotted with cobalt; lower parts deep ferruginous or orange-rufous but chin and throat buffy white; under wing-coverts and axillars similar to breast but slightly paler. Bill black, dusky red along base; feet bright red; nails dark brown; iris dark brown. A male from Mindoro measures: Length, 168; wing, 71; tail, 32; culmen from base, 39; tarsus, 9.

Adult female.—Similar to the male. A specimen from Mindoro measures: Length, 170; wing, 75; tail, 34; culmen from base, 40; tarsus, 9.

Young.—Similar to the adult but duller; lower parts with little or no ferruginous; throat and chin white; breast and abdomen ashy or dusky brown.

“Probably occurs abundantly on every island of the group. Found along the seashore, in mangrove swamps, and along banks of fresh-water streams in the open. Much less commonly met with along streams in the forest.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Balabac (Everett); Bongao (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Platen, Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, White); Sulu (Guillemard); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester, Everett). Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, southern Tenasserim, Java, Borneo.

“Adult male (type of species).—Above rich purplish blue; the entire back brilliant cobalt, changing to deeper blue on the lower rump and upper tail-coverts; wing-coverts black, washed with purplish blue, with a small spot of brighter blue near the end of each feather; quills black, secondaries externally purplish blue like the scapulars; tail black, washed with purplish blue; crown black, barred with purplish blue rather brighter than the shade of the back; hind neck beautiful purplish blue, with the black cross-bars more or less obsolete; lores blackish, with a rufous supra-loral streak; sides of face, ear-coverts, and cheeks purplish blue like the crown, the feathers mottled with black bases; behind the ear-coverts a broad band of white, tinged with ocherous-buff; throat white with a rufous wash; rest of under surface of body from the lower throat downwards chestnut-rufous, with a patch of purplish blue, lilac-tinged feathers on each side of the upper breast; under wing-coverts chestnut-rufous, a little paler than the breast. ‘Bill blackish brown; feet coral-red; iris brown.’ (Everett.) Length, 135; culmen, 42; wing, 65; tail, 27; tarsus, 9.

“Adult female.—Exactly resembles the male in color, and has even the cheeks blue like the male. It appears, however, always to have the bill more, or less red, and generally the greater part of the lower mandible is rufous. Length, 140; culmen, 42; wing, 66; tail, 27; tarsus, 6.” (Sharpe.)

“Found chiefly along banks of fresh-water streams in forest. More rare in mangrove swamps and never seen by us along the seashore. Iris dark brown; legs and feet deep scarlet; bill black, reddish at base of lower mandible. In a single case the bill was deep scarlet except base and culmen black. Seven birds average as follows: Length, 155; wing, 64; tail, 28; culmen, 37; tarsus, 8.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Sal-pac′, Ticao and Masbate.

Luzon (Cuming, Heriot, Möllendorff, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Ticao (McGregor).

Male.—Lores orange-chestnut; sides of face, crown, and occiput deep blue, the feathers tipped with silvery cobalt; back, rump, and tail-coverts silvery cobalt; scapulars black, widely edged with dark blue; wings black, secondaries edged with dark blue; secondary-coverts dark blue, each feather with a spot of silvery cobalt; a large spot of orange-chestnut on side of neck; throat orange-chestnut, much paler on chin; middle of abdomen and a large spot on center of breast orange-chestnut; rest of under parts deep ultramarine-blue and forming two bands across the breast; axillars and wing-lining orange-chestnut; tail dark blue. A male from Mindoro measures: Length, 145; wing, 60; tail, 23; exposed culmen, 35.

Female.—Similar to the male, but all the lower parts deep orange-chestnut except the pale throat and a single dark blue band across the breast. A female from Mindoro measures: Length, 152; wing, 61; tail, 23; exposed culmen, 35.

“We found A. cyanopectus abundantly in Masbate. In Sibuyan it was much more rare. It is to be found along the banks of small fresh-water streams, which it is extremely loath to leave. In Sibuyan one specimen was seen in a mangrove swamp. We never met with it away from water. Legs, feet, and nails scarlet; upper mandible black, lower red; food (in one case) fish.

“Eight males average, 138 in length; wing, 58; tail, 22; culmen, 39; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 17. Seven females average, 142 in length; wing, 60; tail, 22; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 17; culmen, 39.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Basilan (Bourns & Worcester); Dinagat (Everett); Mindanao (Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow, Celestino).

Adult.—Sexes similar; upper parts, wings, and sides of head black; bases of loral feathers white; sides of crown from above eyes to nape with small white spots; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts white, resulting from the wide tips to the feathers; white tip of each feather preceded by a light blue bar which is more or less concealed; a large white patch on each side of neck; chin, throat, and fore breast pure white, forming a well-defined patch; thighs and middle of abdomen white; remainder of under parts black, the breast and sides of abdomen strongly washed with blue; greater secondary-coverts with white tips; edge of wing and most of wing-lining white; axillars black. “Eyes black, feet red; nails and bill black.” (Celestino.) A male from northern Mindanao is 152 in length; wing, 64; tail, 27; culmen from base, 41; tarsus, 10. A female from the same region is 150 in length; wing, 60; tail, 22; culmen from base, 39; tarsus, 10.

In some specimens the white patch behind ear-coverts is washed with buff and some of the median secondary-coverts are tipped with pale blue. These characters are probably due to immaturity.

“We obtained four specimens in Mindanao and one in Basilan; it is extremely rare in the latter island, at least in the portion over which we collected. Like A. cyanopectus and A. nigrirostris it is invariably found along the banks of wooded streams.”

“Iris very dark brown; legs and feet scarlet, much darker in some specimens than in others; nails red to black. Three males from Mindanao measure, 145 in length; wing, 59; tail, 21; culmen, 39; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 15. A female from Basilan measures, 143 in length; wing, 61; tail, 28; culmen, 39; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 16.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).

“Adult male.—Similar to C. argentata, but differing in having the breast and sides of body black, washed with ultramarine or purplish blue. ‘Bill black; legs and feet scarlet, the nails brown; iris brown.’ (Worcester.) Length, 127; culmen, 37; wing, 61; tail, 23; tarsus, 10.

“Adult female.—Similar to the male in color. Length, 140; culmen, 37; wing, 58; tail, 22; tarsus, 9.

“The specimen from Leyte is more ultramarine on the breast than those from Samar, which incline to purplish blue; but Steere unites the birds from the two islands, and thus the Leyte specimen in the Museum may be immature, especially as it has the throat and abdomen tinged with buff. This last character Steere considers to be specific, but I feel sure that it is a sign of immaturity.” (Sharpe.)

“We had scant faith in Steere’s C. flumenicola before our return to the Philippines. But one specimen of C. argentata was collected by the Steere Expedition, and that was so shot to pieces that the differences between it and C. flumenicola were not in evidence to any great extent. The examination of a good series of specimens from Mindanao and Basilan has, however, convinced us that the Samar-Leyte birds are quite distinct.

“The blue of the under parts affords the best means of distinguishing the species, being much darker in the northern birds. The under wing-coverts in the southern birds are white; in the northern birds they are almost invariably light buff. All of our specimens from the south have pure white throats, while the northern birds usually have the white of the throat washed with buff. This last character is not of a very satisfactory nature, however, as the northern birds show a great deal of individual variation in this respect. This variation is independent of the sex; nor does it seem to be, as Dr. Sharpe thinks, a sign of immaturity, young birds in some cases having very little of the color. C. flumenicola is always found along the wooded banks of streams where it perches over the water.

“Iris very dark brown; legs and feet bright scarlet; nails usually blackish; bill black. Food, in one case, small crabs. Eight males measure, 136 in length; wing, 56; tail, 23; culmen, 36; tarsus, 8; middle toe with claw, 20. Five females measure, 139 in length; wing, 57; tail, 23; culmen, 34; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 16.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Negros (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Panay (Bourns & Worcester).

“Adult male.—Back and upper tail-coverts bright cobalt-blue, slightly lighter than in C. cyanipectus; crown and nape blue-black, thickly spotted with bright cobalt, the spots being much wider and slightly lighter than in C. cyanipectus; spots much larger on hind neck, causing it to appear nearly uniform cobalt; scapulars black, heavily washed with dark verditer-blue; wing-coverts washed with verditer-blue, each feather with a bright spot or stripe of cobalt-blue; wing black, the outer webs of secondaries heavily washed with light verditer-blue; tail black, the central pair of feathers washed with verditer-blue on both webs, the others on outer webs only; loral spot reddish buff; a spot of same color on sides of neck; chin and throat white, washed with buff; fore neck, breast, and abdomen uniform buff; flanks, sides of breast, and a complete band across the breast dark verditer-blue; a half band of same color behind this; under tail-coverts buff, the larger ones tipped with verditer-blue; under wing-coverts like the breast, with a spot of verditer-blue at end; basal portion of inner webs of primaries and secondaries washed with pale buff; bill black. Average measurements from ten males: Culmen, 36; tarsus, 9; wing, 56; tail, 22. Length of a single male measured in the flesh, 165.

“Female like male, but has only a half band of verditer-blue across the breast, this being more imperfect than in C. cyanipectus. Average measurements from three females: Culmen, 37; tarsus, 8; wing, 59; tail, 24. Length of single female measured in the flesh, 143.

“A well-marked species easily distinguished from C. cyanipectus, its nearest ally, by the heavy markings on crown and nape, by its black bill and by the entirely different color of its under surface. Like the former species, it is strictly confined to the banks of fresh-water streams and it is usually found in the woods.” (Bourns and Worcester.)

Luzon (Heriot, Möllendorff, Steere Exp., Whitehead).

“Adult.—Above lilac-rufous, washed with lilac; edge of wing rufous; scapulars rufous like the back, with a broad band of black on each side of mantle; wing-coverts black, spotted minutely with bright blue; alula, primary-coverts, and quills black; tail-feathers rufous like the back, the lateral ones blackish; crown lilac-rufous, with faint but distinct spots of brighter lilac; lores pale orange; eyelid and a mark in front of eye blackish; sides of face, ear-coverts, and cheeks lilac-rufous, succeeded by a band of white on the sides of the neck, above which is a spot of bright blue; throat white; fore neck, breast, sides of body, and flanks bright lilac-rufous; abdomen white; thighs and under tail-coverts rufous, as well as the under wing-coverts and axillars and the inner edge of the quills. Length, 127; culmen, 30; wing, 53; tail, 18; tarsus, 9.

“Young.—Exactly similar to the adults, but with a shorter and paler bill, the latter being horny whitish.” (Sharpe.)

Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Steere, Steere Exp., Platen, Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow).

“Above rufous; head, cheeks, and back thickly spotted with bright lilac; wings black, secondaries edged with rufous; coverts black, broadly tipped with rufous, these rufous tips carrying faint lilac spots; breast rufous washed with bright lilac.” (Steere.)

“With a very large series of specimens from Mindanao and Basilan at our disposal we are unable to detect the slightest difference between the birds from the two islands and we therefore unite them under the name C. mindanensis, as the Mindanao birds were obtained and described first. Frequents forest or low second growth away from water.” (Bourns and Worcester.)

“Since Steere has attempted to separate the Mindanao and Basilan birds, we give measurements from all our specimens:

“Eight males from Basilan measure, 134 in length; wing, 58; tail, 21; culmen, 36; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 16.

“Eighteen females from the same place measure, 135 in length; wing, 58; tail, 22; culmen, 39; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 14.

“Four males from Mindanao measure, length, 135; wing, 58; tail, 22; culmen, 39; tarsus, 8; middle toe with claw, 15.

“Two females from same island measure, 143 in length; wing, 59; tail, 23; culmen, 39; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 16.

“Iris very dark brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails scarlet to orange-red. Usually keeps near ground. Occasionally alights 5 to 10 meters above ground. Food, insects and their larvæ.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Leyte (Steere Exp.); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).

“Upper surface deep rufous; interscapulars forming two broad black bands; wings black, coverts black and spotted with cobalt; sides of the head rich lilac; breast and upper abdomen lilac, fainter behind. Length, 147; tail, 30; bill, 30; wing, 66; middle toe with claw, 15. Differs from true C. melanura of Luzon in its larger size, in coloring of cheeks and breast, and in amount of coloring on the lower surface.” (Steere.)

“We obtained a fine series of specimens in Samar which agree in every detail with the description of C. melanura. The specimens secured by us were found among the hills in deep forest and invariably away from water.” (Bourns and Worcester.)

Balabac (Everett); Bongao (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, Schmacker, McGregor); Palawan (Lempriere, Platen, Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester, Everett). Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo.

Adult.—Above red, washed with lilac, heaviest on head and rump; below deep yellow, strongest across the breast; chin and upper throat white, washed with yellow; wing-coverts like the back; primaries and secondaries black; first primary and the secondaries edged with rufous; wing-lining yellow. “Iris dark brown; bill and feet red.” (Celestino.) Male, length, 140; wing, 58; tail, 23; culmen from base, 40. Female, length, 140; wing, 58; tail, 24; culmen from base, 40.

“We have fourteen specimens from Tawi Tawi, Palawan, and the Calamianes Islands and they show some interesting plumage changes which were for some time a puzzle to us.

“An adult pair in high plumage from the Calamianes have entire upper surface of body red, washed with lilac, most heavily on head and rump. Wing-coverts and scapulars like back. Secondaries rufous with broad black shaft-stripes. Primaries black, the first rufous for entire length of outer web and most of the others showing a small amount of rufous at their tips. Under surface of primaries washed with rufous on inner webs. Chin and throat white faintly tinged with lemon-yellow. Remainder of under surface deep golden-yellow, darkest on sides of breast and flanks. A yellowish white patch behind ear. Under tail-coverts golden yellow, tipped with rufous. Tail uniform bright rufous above and below. Under wing-coverts and axillars golden yellow. Bend of wing rufous.

“This plumage we take to be typical for fully adult birds in fine feather. Two females from Palawan agree with this description except that in one the secondaries show rufous only on under surface of inner webs, and that the primaries show no rufous except on basal half of outer web of first. The under wing-coverts, axillars, and bend of wing are light rufous instead of yellow.

“Sharpe, Ibis (1894), 246, reports an adult male of this species from Bongao and a female from Tawi Tawi. We note certain differences shown by our Tawi Tawi specimens, of which we have twelve. Of these four agree with the Calamianes birds except that the scapulars show more or less black at their bases and that the secondaries show more of black. Among the remaining specimens, however, there are some curious variations.

“First it is to be noted that in three fully adult birds beginning to molt the under surface is pale dirty yellowish, the throat white.

“In two of the birds a few scattered yellow feathers are appearing in the white of the throat. This then is the worn-out plumage of old birds.

“A male with rich yellow under surface and white throat has some of the scapulars entirely black, tipped with blue, the remainder being tipped with lilac. Some of the wing-coverts are black, tipped with blue. No rufous on primaries except on outer web of first.

“Another bird has chin and throat pure white, the breast mottled with golden yellow and light cinnamon-rufous. Feathers of abdomen nearly white, tips washed with rufous. Under wing-coverts and axillars cinnamon-rufous. A little more black in the scapulars than the preceding. Tail with broad black shaft-stripes on apical half of under surface of feathers.

“Another specimen has chin and throat pure white. Sides of face, breast, flanks, under wing-coverts, and axillars cinnamon-rufous, deepest on the breast. Abdomen nearly white. A few golden-yellow feathers appearing on breast, flanks, and abdomen. Scapulars, except a few of the smallest, black quite broadly tipped with blue; tail with tips of all its feathers black.

“Finally, a single specimen has under surface as in preceding except that yellow feathers have not begun to appear. Scapulars and inner third of inner secondaries black, the former tipped with blue, the latter with rufous washed with lilac. Tail with apical two-thirds of feathers black washed with rufous on edges of webs. The bill of this last bird shows signs of immaturity, being blackish toward the tip instead of clear scarlet.

“We were at first greatly puzzled by these birds, as the black scapulars with their blue tips form a striking marking and with a single exception the bills of our specimens showed no sign of immaturity. After carefully examining the whole series, however, we are convinced that the cinnamon-rufous under surface, tail-feathers tipped with black, and black scapulars tipped with blue are themselves signs of immaturity, the black gradually disappearing with age, and yellow feathers appearing on the outer surface until the plumage first described by us is reached. This finally becomes worn and soiled giving the dirty yellowish under plumage already noted. Our Tawi Tawi birds were shot late in October and early in November, Palawan birds in December, and Calamianes birds in January and February.” (Bourns and Worcester.)

“Usually found along the banks of fresh-water streams in the forest, not, however, strictly confined to banks of streams, but sometimes met with in the woods away from water.

“Iris very dark brown; bill, legs, and feet scarlet. Food shrimps and insects, in one case small lizard and crabs. Eighteen specimens average as follows: Length, 140; wing, 58; tail, 24; culmen, 37; tarsus, 8; middle toe with claw, 16.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Banton (Celestino); Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Steere Exp., Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Negros (Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester, Everett).

Adult (sexes similar).—Above, sides of head and neck, and wings ultramarine to silvery cobalt-blue; having a more or less spotted appearance on head; lores and under parts orange-rufous, but chin, throat, and middle of abdomen white or with a pale yellow wash; alula, primaries, and primary-coverts black; edge of wing and outer web of first alula-quill and of first primary rufous; tail blue, darker than back and coverts. In a male from Banton the wing is 68; tail, 26; culmen from base, 39; tarsus, 10.

“Young.—Similar to the adult, but less brilliant and with a duller red bill; the head, scapulars, and wing-coverts black, with blue ends to the feathers; the blue of the back lighter than in the adult, and inclining to cobalt on the lower back; loral spot as large as in the adult.” (Sharpe.)

This species exists under a number of plumages some of which have been described as separate species. Bourns and Worcester have collected a great number of specimens which show that these variations can not be specific. In part they say:

“We find that we must either multiply the number of small blue woods Ceyces from the Philippines indefinitely or reduce the above-mentioned species [C. bournsi, malamaui, suluensis, and margarethæ] to one. It would be an almost endless task to describe the different phases of plumage shown and we will only say that we have a practically unbroken series between a bird with a magnificent deep blue upper surface and a bird with a fine silvery white upper surface which has not a blue feather on it. In the latter specimens the white occupies exactly the position of the blue in the specimens first mentioned.

“Our series shows that these extraordinary differences of color are independent of sex, age, or locality, some young birds are very light, others very dark. In one case where parent and offspring were killed at one discharge of the gun they exhibited marked differences in color.

“The amount of blue or white is, however, dependent on age to some extent, the young birds always showing much more black on the upper surface than do adults. In the young the bill is at first black tipped with pale horn and the legs and feet are pale flesh-color.

“Ceyx bournsi is a strictly woods form and its shy habits doubtless explain its having been so generally missed by collectors.” (Bourns and Worcester.)

“Found in precisely the same locality as C. mindanensis and in company with it in the Islands of Mindanao and Basilan. Food the same as that of C. mindanensis.

“When one has learned its note and habits it may be secured without great trouble. It always gives a shrill ‘cheep’ just before taking wing, and repeats the same note at frequent intervals during flight. It flies with great rapidity, but usually for a short distance, when it alights on some branch, stump, or stone, where it sits perfectly still. It is a bird of extremely local habits, and displays great reluctance to leave the thicket to which it is accustomed. If pursued it usually flies in a circle, soon returning to the place from which it started, continuing to follow about the same course until the hunter either shoots it or gives up the attempt. When its route has been once learned, two men can easily bring it down, one driving it while the other waits near one of its favorite resting places. In this way we secured a considerable number of our specimens. We believe that this species never ‘fishes’ in the streams.

“Iris dark brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails scarlet in adults, growing paler in immature birds. Very young birds have the bill black, with a whitish horn tip. Food, insects, larvæ and worms.

“Six males from Tawi Tawi measure as follows: Length, 140; wing, 64; tail, 25; culmen, 38; tarsus, 8; middle toe with claw, 16. Four females from Tawi Tawi: Length, 141; wing, 64; tail, 24; culmen, 37; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 17.

“Five males from Tablas measure: Length, 146; wing, 65; tail, 25; culmen, 36; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 17. Four females from Tablas: Length, 145; wing, 66; tail, 25; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 22; culmen, 36.

“We have given measurements of birds taken at the extremes of the range of the species. It will be seen that the northern birds are slightly longer. As stated in our preliminary notes, the color of the dorsal surface of this bird varies from deep indigo-blue to pure silvery white, and this variation is independent of age, sex, or locality.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Mindanao (Goodfellow).

“Adult male.—Most nearly allied to C. malamaui Steere [=bournsi], but the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are of a brilliant ultramarine-blue, tinged with cobalt on the middle of the lower back and rump; the feathers of the crown and nape are also tipped with much of the same brilliant color; the wing-coverts and scapulars like those of C. malamaui, are of a deep purplish blue. ‘Iris dark brown; bill, feet, and nails bright vermilion.’ (Goodfellow.) Length, 127; wing, 63; tail, 22; culmen, 39; tarsus, 10.” (Grant.)

This species, described from a single specimen, is doubtfully distinct from Ceyx bournsi.

Sa-luc-sac, Calayan.

Batan (Edmonds); Calayan (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Luzon (Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Everett, Celestino); Mindoro (McGregor); Palawan (Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, White); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Sangi and Liu Kiu Islands, Indo-Chinese countries, Malay Peninsula, eastern Himalayas, China, Japan, Korea, Formosa, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes.

Adult male.—Above, including wings and tail, dark rufous, heavily washed with violet; on lower back, rump, and tail-coverts a narrow stripe of silvery white, slightly washed with blue; below dark cinnamon-buff, chin whitish; throat, breast, and under tail-coverts washed with violet. Bill, legs, and nails bright coral-red; iris brown. Length of a specimen from Camiguin, 250; wing, 116; tail, 72; culmen from base, 57; tarsus, 15.

Female.—Much less violet wash on upper parts and very little or none on lower parts. Length of a specimen from Calayan, 270; wing, 119; tail, 74; culmen from base, 55; tarsus, 15.

Young.—Lower parts lighter, chin more extensively whitish, violet wash less, and feathers of throat and breast edged with blackish brown forming numerous small crescents.

“Probably ranges throughout the Philippines, but is as yet noted from but few of the islands. It is sometimes found in deep woods away from water, but more commonly along the banks of wooded streams and in mangrove swamps. It is usually shy and hard to shoot, but in Sibuyan two individuals of this species took up their abode in the bamboos in our back yard, apparently attracted by the flesh of land shells thrown out as we cleaned our specimens. In several islands where we met with this species we obtained but a single specimen.

“Bill, legs, and feet scarlet; nails bright red or orange-red; iris very dark brown. Food crabs, in four cases. Seven males measured, 258 in length; wing, 111; tail, 63; culmen, 58; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 25. Four females: Length, 253; wing, 109; tail, 64; culmen, 56; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 25.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Til-ma-ma-noc′, Manila.

Basilan (Bourns & Worcester); Bohol (McGregor); Caluya (Porter); Cebu (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Everett); Libagao (Porter); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Maestre de Campo (McGregor & Worcester); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Murray, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, Goodfellow); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Porter); Negros (Steere, Layard, Keay, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Panaon (Everett); Panay (Murray, Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Sibay (Porter); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor).

Adult.—Entire head, neck, and sides of face deep chestnut; scapulars bright blue; back and rump more silvery cobalt-blue; a large patch on chin and upper throat pure white; remainder of under parts chestnut, a little lighter than crown; basal part of primaries blue on outer web, white on inner web; distal part black; alula and primary-coverts blue; secondary-coverts black; edge of wing and axillars chestnut; tail blue above and black below. When the specimen is held away from the light the blues become green. Iris dark brown; bill and legs bright red; nails black. A male from Bohol measures: Length, 280; wing, 124; tail, 80; culmen from base, 62; tarsus, 15. A female from Mariveles measures: Length, 286; wing, 124; tail, 83; culmen from base, 63; tarsus, 14.

“Steere states that neither this species nor H. coromandus nor even H. chloris frequents streams. We can not agree with him. All three of the species are frequently found along streams, and H. gularis is usually found along fresh-water streams. It sometimes feeds in dry open country, however. Several nests of this species were found by us at various times. They were invariably placed in the mud nests of white ants, and consisted of mere tunnels, without lining of any sort. The eggs are pure white and highly polished. Two eggs before us are nearly spherical, measuring 28.5 by 26.4 and 28.9 by 26.9, respectively. Six others, while nearly as broad as long, are quite abruptly pointed at the smaller end. They measure, 30.9 by 27.6; 31.4 by 28.7; 30.9 by 25.9; 32.5 by 28.9; 30.9 by 27.9.

“H. gularis has the legs and feet red, bill red, nails black, iris dark brown. Six males measure, 282 in length; wing, 122; tail, 81; culmen, 64; tarsus, 14; middle toe with claw, 25.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

A large number of white-throated kingfishers nested in the banks of the Baco River, Mindoro, during our stay at Balete in April, 1905, while other pairs excavated holes in masses of earth held among the roots of overturned trees.

Balabac (Steere, Steere Exp., Everett); Basilan (Steere Exp.); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, southern India to Canara, Indo-Chinese countries to China and north to Korea, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes.

“Adult male.—General color above purplish blue on the mantle and scapulars, the center of the back and rump brighter and more purplish cobalt; upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers purplish blue, the latter blackish along the inner webs and having black shafts; wing-coverts black; alula, primary-coverts, and outer aspect of quills purplish blue, the latter blackish at the ends, and with broad white bases to the inner webs; crown, sides of face, and ear-coverts black, as well as the base of the cheeks; round the hind neck a broad white collar; cheeks and throat white, extending down the center of the breast; sides of the latter, flanks, abdomen, and under tail-coverts, under wing-coverts, and axillars rich orange-buff; quills below black, with a broad white band across the base. ‘Bill deep red; mouth pale red; eyelids pinkish plumbeous, covered with white feathers, except on the edges, where they are black; feet dark red, brownish in front of the tarsus; claws dark horn-color; iris dark brown.’ (Oates.) Length, 279; culmen, 61; wing, 127; tail, 86; tarsus, 14.

“Adult female.—Does not differ in color from the male. Length, 279; culmen, 61; wing, 130; tail, 76; tarsus, 13.

“Young birds have dusky blackish fringes to the feathers of the breast.” (Sharpe.)

“Common in Balabac, but very rare in Tawi Tawi and Basilan. The single Tawi Tawi specimen obtained was shot in the banana trees about our house on the very day of our departure, and must have been a straggler. Bill scarlet; iris very dark brown; legs and feet dark red; nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Goodfellow, Celestino); Negros (Whitehead); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Steere Exp.); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Everett, Bourns & Worcester).

Male.—Above, including wings and tail, deep blue; lores and a narrow collar on hind neck chestnut; a band of light blue extending backward from above eye and joining its fellow across nape; back, rump, and central tail-coverts light silvery blue; sides of head and a small patch on each side of breast dark blue; lower parts white; primaries and alula black, remainder of wing-feathers edged with blue; tail blue above, black below. Bill black, except under part of lower mandible which is white near base; feet greenish drab; nails black. Length of a male from Basilan, 255; wing, 103; tail, 75; culmen from base, 57; tarsus, 14.

Female.—Above similar to the male but blacker because of the greater restriction of blue on each feather; chestnut collar much wider; below white, washed to a greater or less extent with fawn, heaviest on breast, usually wanting on middle of abdomen. Length of a female from Basilan, 255; wing, 102; tail, 75; culmen from base, 54; bill from nostril, 46.

Young.—A specimen taken in Sibuyan indicates that the young male resembles the adult female.

“A deep-woods form, usually seen perching in trees at a considerable distance from the ground, though it goes to the ground to feed. On being surprised when feeding it flies up into the trees at once. This kingfisher seems to be fully possessed of the idea that it can sing, and may often be seen at early morning or dusk, perched 15 meters above the ground, and squawking away as if life depended on it.

“Familiarity with its habits and its note enabled us to procure it in many islands where it was not previously known. It is, however, a difficult bird to shoot at the best.

“Iris dark brown; legs and feet light greenish olive, sometimes yellowish olive; nails black; bill black except base of lower mandible which is usually white; tip of bill sometimes white; food, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, and grubs.

“Eight males average, 247 in length; wing, 98; tail, 74; culmen, 51; tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 23. Thirteen females, length, 250; wing, 100; tail, 74; culmen, 52; tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 24.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Ti-ca-rol′, Bohol; ba-ca-ca, Cagayancillo; tac-ca-rit, Ticao.

Bantayan (McGregor); Banton (Celestino); Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Batan (McGregor); Bohol (Everett); Bongao (Everett); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Cagayan Sulu (Guillemard); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Caluya (Porter); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Camiguin S. (Murray); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Murray, Meyer, Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cuyo (McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Fuga (McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp.); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Maestre de Campo (McGregor & Worcester); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Steere, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, Goodfellow); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Porter), Negros (Layard, Steere, Everett, Keay, Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, White); Panay (Murray, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (McGregor); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Semirara (McGregor & Worcester); Sibay (McGregor & Worcester); Sibutu (Everett); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester, Everett); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor); Y’Ami (McGregor). Aru, Molucca, Tenimber, Lesser Sunda, and Sula Islands, Sumatra, Java, Celebes, Mysol.

Adult.—Forehead and crown greenish blue, set off by a black line which begins at lores, passes under eye to ear-coverts and meets its fellow on hind neck; this followed by a white collar; a spot of white behind each nostril; wings, back, rump, and tail blue; scapulars greenish blue like crown; rump and upper tail-coverts lighter and bluer; tail, primaries, and secondaries deeper blue; under parts all white; tail and wings blackish; wing-lining and axillars white; sexes alike in color. Iris dark brown; bill black except a wedge-shaped space on lower mandible which is pale yellow or dirty white. A male from Cagayancillo measures: Length, 240; wing, 105; tail, 70; culmen from base, 50; tarsus, 13. A female from Bohol: Length, 246; wing, 107; tail, 71; culmen from base, 52; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 27.

Young.—Immature birds have the feathers of breast, sides of neck and breast, and sometimes the white collar, edged with black or dusky brown forming crescentic marks on the breast.

“The commonest of Philippine kingfishers. Frequently observed perching on native houses in villages and very common in coconut groves. Not infrequently found fishing along small fresh-water streams in the open, less common along wooded streams. Especially abundant in mangrove swamps and along the seashore. The usual native name is ‘tick-a-rool’.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Mindanao (Hombron & Jacquinot, Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow, Celestino).

“Adult male.—Head and nape bright blue, more brilliant on the sides of the head, above the eye, and on the nape; round the latter a narrow line of deep black; ear-coverts chestnut; along the lower line of the lores a streak of black, reaching below the eye, and widening behind the latter, being here washed with blue; cheeks bright blue, forming a broad band; sides of neck and hinder part of the latter deep tawny, varied with narrow black edgings to the feathers; mantle blackish, mottled with spots of tawny-buff, these being subterminal, with a narrow fringe of black; center of back, scapulars, and wing-coverts green, with a slight shade of verditer, each feather having a distinct subterminal spot of ochraceous-buff; quills blackish, externally washed with greenish, the primaries edged with ochraceous, the secondaries with the same subterminal spot of ochraceous as on the wing-coverts; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts bright silvery cobalt, the sides of the back and the lateral coverts blackish, washed with blue; tail-feathers deep blue, with black shafts; throat white, slightly washed with tawny; rest of the under surface deep tawny, whiter on the center of the abdomen; breast-feathers with narrow, nearly obsolete, blackish margins; thighs externally blackish, internally deep tawny; feathers at side of vent, adjoining the sides of the lower back, deep blue, the outer web more or less ochraceous; under wing-coverts and axillars deep tawny; quills blackish below, edged with pale tawny-buff along the inner web. Length, 287; culmen, 51; wing, 126; tail, 105; tarsus, 19.” (Sharpe.)

Female.—Similar to the male but crown and cheek-band greenish; the greenish wash on wings very faint; tail faintly washed with green instead of blue.

“A strictly woods form, never met with in the open. Quite common in Mindanao, and so far as is at present known, confined to that island.

“Iris very dark brown; legs and feet dirty greenish olive; culmen black; bill along gape dirty red, darker at base. Food, beetles and small snails. Measurements from seven males: Length, 283; wing, 123; tail, 94; culmen, 46; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 26. Six females, length, 278; wing, 120; tail, 94; culmen, 48; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 28.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Luzon (Lindsay, Eydoux & Souleyet, Möllendorff, Cuming, Everett, Heriot, Steere Exp., Bridges).

“Adult male.—Above green, a little brighter on the center of lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts; lateral upper tail-coverts and sides of lower back and rump dingy green, the scapulars, mantle, and wing-coverts each having a distinct spot of ocherous-buff; quills brown, externally edged with fulvous, secondaries greener, and terminally spotted with ocherous like the scapulars; tail-feathers dull greenish brown, fringed with sandy buff at the ends, the penultimate feather notched with buff on the inner web, the outermost one on both webs, producing a banded appearance; head green, the forehead with a few cinnamon feathers; lores black, surmounted by a streak of pale cinnamon-buff reaching above the eye and continued into a line of bright cobalt, which encircles the hinder crown and nape; feathers round the eye black, continued into a band which encircles the hind neck, and is followed by a band of cinnamon feathers, fringed with black; sides of face and ear-coverts cinnamon; throat pale cinnamon, separated from the band on the sides of the face by a broad band of bright cobalt, which occupies the cheeks and lateral margin of the throat; fore neck and breast mottled, the feathers being white, margined with green, the green edges diminishing in size on the lower breast, till they gradually disappear on the abdomen, which, with the under tail-feathers, is pure white; sides of body like the breast; thighs blackish, tipped with ocherous; under wing-coverts, axillars, and quill-lining fawn-buff. ‘Bill black, the culmen and under mandible yellow; feet light green; iris brown.’ (Everett.) Length, 241; culmen, 47; wing, 106; tail, 79; tarsus, 16.

“Adult female.—Resembles the male, but the band encircling the crown is green instead of blue; the broad band on the cheeks is also green, not blue; the throat is white; and the green edgings to the breast-feathers are less pronounced. ‘Bill black, the culmen and mandible chrome-yellow; feet light green; claws horn-yellow; iris brown.’ (Everett.) Length, 249; culmen, 47; wing, 109; tail, 89; tarsus, 16.

“Young male.—Like the adult male, but with smaller ocherous spots on the upper surface; the band round the crown and the cheek-stripe not so blue as in the adult, but not so green as in the female; under surface as in adult, but with a fulvescent tinge throughout.

“Young female.—Duller than the adult female, and with smaller ocherous spots; otherwise like the old female, and having a green band round the crown.” (Sharpe.)

Negros (Steere Exp., Whitehead).

“Immature female (type of species).—Similar to H. lindsayi, but distinguished by the edgings of the breast-feathers, which are black and not green. ‘Bill black, culmen and lower mandible yellow; legs and feet greenish.’ (Moseley.) Length, 264; culmen, 46; wing, 109; tail, 86; tarsus, 14.” (Sharpe.)

“Moseley’s kingfisher, a truly splendid species, is represented by three fully adult males. The only example previously known is the immature female originally described by Prof. Steere. From this female type the male birds before me appear to differ in the following points: The lower ear-coverts are chestnut instead of buff, the moustachial stripes cobalt-blue, like the band round the crown of the head, and there is a small triangular green patch in the middle of the black interscapular region. From the adult male of H. lindsayi they are easily distinguished by the generally black ground-color of the mantle and scapulars, as well as by the black margins to the feathers of the breast and flanks, only those in the middle of the breast being tinged with greenish. Length, 254; wing, 107; tail, 80; tarsus, 18.” (Grant.)

“Discovered by Mr. E. L. Moseley after whom it was named by Dr. Steere. But one specimen was secured by him. We searched diligently for this fine Halcyon on our return to Negros, but failed to find it. It is undoubtedly extremely rare there. So far as we know at present this species is confined to Negros, and no closely related species is known from any island nearer than Luzon.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)