Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Mindanao (Steere Exp., Platen, Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).

Adult male.—Forehead and crown deep purple; a few spots of scarlet on occiput, not always present; feathers at base of bill with white bases; lores black; a white collar around neck; hind neck, back, and scapulars slate-gray; rump and tail-coverts chestnut, tipped with purple; tail chestnut; chin, throat, and sides of head black; breast, abdomen, and sides lilac, bases of the feathers white; middle of abdomen white; under tail-coverts white, tinged with lilac; thighs blackish gray; wings black; edge of wing and of first primary white; a distinct bar of golden yellow on secondaries, changing to white on inner secondaries; wing-lining black, axillars white. A male from Basilan measures: Wing, 85; tail, 64; culmen from base, 22; bill from nostril, 14; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 22.

Adult female.—Similar, but under parts pure white except the black chin and throat and gray thighs. A female from Basilan measures: Wing, 86; tail, 64; culmen from base, 23; bill from nostril, 15; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 21.

“There has been some difference of opinion between Dr. Steere and Mr. Everett as to the color of the eyes of this interesting species. Both were right and there was abundant room for still more divergence of opinion. The eyes of S. steerii are golden yellow, bright green, or a beautiful blue according to the way the light strikes them.

“The young show some interesting plumage changes. An immature male has the under surface white, some of the feathers tipped with pale lilac; chin black but throat white, a few black feathers just appearing; head as in adult but white nuchal collar much narrower; back and wing-coverts washed with olive-green, the wing-bar being ill-defined and paler than in adult; rump and tail as in adult. Bill as in adult except center of upper mandible which is black.

“Another young male, slightly older, has chin and throat black, the feathers narrowly tipped with white and shows more lilac on breast. Crown, nape, and back washed with olive-green, purple appearing on one or two feathers of forehead. Bill pure black.

“A young female is like the first young male described but without lilac on under surface.” (Bourns and Worcester.)

“Usually found in deep woods in small flocks; once seen in a mangrove swamp close to the sea. It usually takes short flights, making a loud whir with its wings, and sits perfectly still for some time after. When perched on a limb, it has a curious habit of snapping its bill which produces a sound audible for some distance. Its food consists of insects which it holds in its bill and raps several times on a limb before swallowing. Its note is a plaintive whistle and it may be readily decoyed by imitating its call. At the discharge of a gun it does not fly away but sits perfectly still.

“Iris blue, green, or golden according to the light; bill, legs, feet, and eye-wattle light blue; nails nearly white. Ten males from Basilan average: Length, 174; wing, 84; tail, 60; culmen, 24; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 25. Ten females average: Length, 172; wing, 85; tail, 87; culmen, 24; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 24.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

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

“Adult male.—Much smaller than S. steerii. Head, back, and scapulars purple somewhat mottled with brown; white nuchal collar very narrow and ill-defined; purple of back gradually changing into brown on rump; tips of scapulars black; upper tail-coverts and tail bright chestnut; upper wing-coverts black; tertiaries barred across both webs with pure white; three secondaries with lilac spot on outer webs; tips of secondaries and tertiaries black; primaries blackish brown; chin, throat, sides of face, ear-coverts, and lores pure black; breast, abdomen, and flanks lilac, deeper on upper breast, lighter on abdomen; thighs black, the feathers tipped with brown; under tail-coverts light buff; axillars white; under wing-coverts black; bend of wing white.

“Female like male except that the lilac of under surface is replaced by white. Bill, legs, feet, nails, and eyes exactly as in S. steerii and the young show the same plumage changes as in that species.

“Average measurements from five males: Length, 153; wing, 78; tail, 62; culmen, 22; tarsus, 20.” (Bourns and Worcester.)

“Habits exactly like those of the preceding species; abundant in Samar but irregularly distributed.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)