Bill strong, as wide as deep at nostril, or slightly wider; culmen and cutting edge gently curved throughout their length; a small notch near tip of bill; nostrils covered by short close-set feathers; rictal and nasal bristles short and weak; wing rather long and pointed; first primary short, equal to about one-half the length of wing; second primary considerably shorter than third or fourth; tarsus moderately developed; feathers of rump with thickened shafts. In this family the bill, legs, and nails are black. The nests are built in trees, and the eggs are usually greenish blue, spotted with brown and gray.
Bill large and strong; wing considerably longer than tail; first primary little more than one-half of second, fourth longest; tarsus strong, longer than bill from nostril; tail nearly square, but outermost pair of rectrices decidedly shorter than the others. The Philippine species of Artamides are very much alike; the wings and tail are black, and the greater part of the remaining plumage is gray, but certain parts are barred with black and white in nearly all the species. The sexes are unlike and the male is slightly larger than the female. The length is usually more than 260 mm. The key to the species of Artamides is modified from the key given by Grant, Ibis (1896), 535.
FEMALES.
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Everett, Lempriere, Whitehead, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Adult male.—Except wings and tail, nearly uniform pale gray, palest on uropygium and crissum, much lighter gray than in A. striatus or A. mindorensis; no black on forehead, lores, and chin. A male from Palawan measures: Wing, 158; tail, 115; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 21; tarsus, 25.
Adult female.—General color pale gray like the male; rump and upper tail-coverts white, barred with black; black bars on under parts narrower than the white spaces, and under tail-coverts with only one or two bars on each feather. An immature female from Palawan measures: Wing, 145; tail, 108; culmen from base, 25; bill from nostril, 18; tarsus, 25.
Young.—The young male is barred like the young female and the young of both sexes have white fringes on the rectrices, remiges, and wing-coverts.
“Fairly common; frequents high trees. Three males average: Length, 282; wing, 155; tail, 121; culmen, 32; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 26. A female, length, 279; wing, 150; tail, 114; culmen, 30; tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw, 26. Iris pale yellow; bill, legs, feet, and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bongao (Everett); Lapac (Guillemard); Sibutu (Everett); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).
Male.—Under parts uniform gray; feathers covering nostrils, lores, and space in front of eye deep black. Tail, about 144.
Female.—Entire upper and under parts uniform gray as in A. mindorensis. Wing, 170; tail, 142.
In naming this species Salvadori compares it with A. schistaceus from the Sula Islands and does not state in what way it differs from the previously described Philippine species, but the diagnoses given above are sufficient to distinguish it.
“Fairly common; frequents high trees in the forest. Three males average: Length, 307; wing, 172; tail, 137; culmen, 34; tarsus, 26; middle toe with claw, 30. Four females, length, 316; wing, 168; tail, 137; culmen, 35; tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw, 28. Iris very dark brown; legs, feet, nails, and bill black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Ba-búy ba-búy-an, Manila.
Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor).
Male.—General color, except remiges and rectrices, dark gray; feathers of rump fringed with white; feathers in front of eyes and covering nostrils, a narrow line above eye, a small patch on jaw, and a few feathers on chin black. Iris straw-yellow; bill, legs, and nails black. Length, about 280; wing, 163; tail, 120; culmen from base, 24; bill from nostril, 20; tarsus, 25. From a Lubang specimen.
Female.—General plumage dark gray; feathers of rump and upper tail-coverts with white tips and subterminal black bars; abdomen, crissum, wing-lining, and axillars black with narrow white bars; lores and feathers around eyes blackish. Wing, 170; tail, 125; culmen from base, 26; tarsus, 26. From a Luzon specimen.
Basilan (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Leyte (Whitehead); Mindanao (Jacquinot, Steere, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, Goodfellow); Nipa (Everett); Panaon (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
Male.—Rump and tail-coverts barred with black and white; lower breast and abdomen barred with black and white, posteriorly the white bars wider than the black bars; under tail-coverts white, each feather with two or three narrow incomplete black bars. Iris pale yellow. Length, about 280; wing, 162; tail, 122; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 23; tarsus, 25.
Female.—Above similar to the male; lores and feathers over nostrils mottled with white; outermost rectrices tipped with white, and each with a small subterminal black spot; next pair of rectrices slightly tipped with white; entire under parts barred with black and white, the black bars narrow and incomplete as in the male. Wing, 155; tail, 115; culmen from base, 28; bill from nostril, 22; tarsus, 25.
This species is similar in markings to A. difficilis, but the general gray color is much darker. The measurements given are taken from specimens collected in Basilan.
“Two males average: Length, 265; wing, 150; tail, 106; culmen, 32; tarsus, 26; middle toe with claw, 27. Four females, length, 273; wing, 149; tail, 109; culmen, 27; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 26. Iris usually pale yellow, but in two cases brownish red; bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Food insects and fruit.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Ca-ri-ac′-ri-ac′, Ticao.
Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Meyer, Steere, Everett, Keay, Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, Banks); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Male.—Lores, feathers over nostrils, jaw, and chin black; rump and tail-coverts barred with black and white; lower breast, abdomen, and tail-coverts heavily barred with black and white. Iris plum-color; bill, legs, and nails black. Length, 290; wing, 168; tail, 120; culmen from base, 30.
Female.—Similar to the male, but lores, feathers over nostrils, jaw, and chin gray; fore breast narrowly barred. Wing, 165; tail, 120; culmen from base, 28.
“The Visayan artamides is quite common and occurs in small flocks; it is called ‘guia-guia’ by the natives from its note. Often found in open country. It is bold, and does not fly away when shot at. Four males from Masbate average: Length, 286; wing, 157; tail, 118; culmen, 33; tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw, 30. Four females, length, 289; wing, 156; tail, 117; culmen, 31; tarsus, 26; middle toe with claw, 28. Iris brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Libagao (Porter);61 Mindoro (Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester).
Male.—Lores, nasal plumes, line around eye, jaw, and chin black; rest of plumage gray with no bars; very similar to the male of A. striatus, but feathers of uropygium not fringed with white. Iris pale yellow. Wing, 160; tail, 118; culmen from base, 26; bill from nostril, 20; tarsus, 23.
Female.—Uniform gray, similar to the male but no black about eye, lores, etc.; similar to female of A. guillemardi, but slightly larger. Wing, 160; tail, 120; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 21; tarsus, 24.
“The differences between A. guillemardi and A. mindorensis are very slight. Sharpe, Ibis (1894), 254, states that the latter is lighter gray in color than the former. On comparing specimens of these two species we are unable to perceive the slightest difference so far as the general color of the body is concerned. The feathers of the throat and crown in the male of A. mindorensis are, however, lighter gray than in the male A. guillemardi, so that the black markings on the side of the head stand out more sharply.
“We have a large series of birds from Tablas. In nearly all of them the under wing-coverts are barred with black and white. This we consider to be a sign of immaturity, however, and we do not regard them as specifically distinct from the Mindoro birds, though their general color is slightly darker, and the black head-marking less distinct.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
A nest and one egg were taken in Mindoro on April 26, 1905. The nest is composed of mosses, small leaves, lichens, and fine rootlets; the outside is covered with cobwebs which serve to hold the materials together and to fasten the nest to the fork in which it was built. The nest is about 115 mm. across the top and its outside depth is about 50. The ground-color of the egg is light gray with a slightly greenish tinge; a heavy and continuous wreath of spots and blotches encircles the shell near the plane of its short diameter; a few small spots are scattered about over the entire surface; the deep shell-markings vary from pale to dark lavender; the surface spots and blotches are reddish brown; measurements, 30.7 by 21 mm.
Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor).
Male.—Lores and line of feathers around eye black; general plumage gray; similar to A. mindorensis, but chin and nasal plumes gray. Wing, 170; tail, 130; culmen from base, 31; bill from nostril, 23; tarsus, 27.
Female.—Upper parts, throat, and breast gray; abdomen and crissum closely barred with black and white. Wing, 166; tail, 130; culmen from base, 28; bill from nostril, 22; tarsus, 25.
“Wing and tail about equal; wing-feathers as in Edolisoma, third, fourth, and fifth quills longest; tail forked, fourth quill longest, third subequal, outer quill shortest; webs of outer pair of rectrices sharply pointed; in form and pattern the tail resembles that of Campochæra, but has the webs more pointed; bill with culmen decidedly shorter than tarsus, narrower at gape than length of outer toe without claw; stiffened shafts of rump-feathers very pronounced.” (Mearns.)
Mindanao (Mearns).
“Adult male and female.—Upper parts including crown, mantle, rump, upper tail-coverts, and middle pair of tail-feathers uniform light gray; forehead, chin, throat, breast, and sides of head to above eyes black; innermost secondaries, scapulars, and least wing-coverts gray like the back; middle and greater wing-coverts and a broad external band on innermost pair of secondaries white; remaining wing-quills black externally, broadly white on inner webs at base; alula all black; axillars and under wing-coverts white; three outer rectrices tipped with grayish white on both webs, the innermost of the three narrowly, the next broadly, and the outermost for more than one-third of its length; chest, flanks, and thighs gray like the back, this color fading to whitish on the abdomen and becoming pure white on the under tail-coverts. Iris red or reddish brown; bill all black; feet plumbeous-black, with under side of toes yellow. Three adult males measure: Length, 236 to 240; alar expanse, 335 to 342; wing, 110 to 113; tail, 108 to 117; culmen, 19 to 19.5; tarsus, 23 to 24; middle toe with claw, 20 to 21. Female: Length, 230; alar expanse, 330; wing, 108; tail, 111; culmen, 19; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 21.
“Remarks.—The black of the under side of the head extends around the neck and forms an incomplete black neck-collar which in the oldest males is but narrowly interrupted in the median line above. The sexes are colored alike, but one female (No. 14,177), probably immature, has the black areas of the head and neck replaced by a dark gray color. The plumage otherwise differs from that of the adult only in having scarcely discernible fulvous edgings and wavy cross-bands to the feathers of the abdomen. This species was abundant on Mount Malindang. Fifteen specimens were collected, ten of them males and five females.” (Mearns.)
This genus is similar to Artamides, but its members are smaller and the bill is decidedly more slender. The plumage is unbarred in the adult and the male has the chin, throat, forehead, and face masked in black, or else the whole plumage is black. The young have the under parts barred. The following key to species is modified from the one given by Grant, Ibis (1896), 538.
Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Möllendorff, Whitehead, Steere Exp., McGregor).
Male.—Entire plumage black; head, neck, back, and under parts slightly glossed with blue; wings very faintly glossed with dark green. Iris dark; bill, legs, and nails black. Length, about 260; measurements of four males, wing, 127 to 136; tail, 109 to 127; bill from nostril, 18 to 20; depth of bill at angle of gonys, 8.1 to 8.4.
Female.—Under parts uniform dull smoke-gray; above darker and nearly black; upper tail-coverts edged with smoke-gray; wings and tail black, slightly glossed with green. Wing, 125; tail, 115; culmen from base, 23; bill from nostril, 18; tarsus, 21.
The single egg secured by Whitehead in Benguet Province, Luzon, March 14, 1894, was taken from the bird. The egg is thus described:
“Shape ovate. Ground-color pale blue, spotted and dotted over the entire shell. Under-markings gray and grayish lilac; over-markings dark brown. Measurements 29 mm. by 21 mm.” (Grant and Whitehead.)
Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor).
Male.—Very similar to the male of E. cærulescens being entirely black; all the plumage slightly glossed with dark green. Iris brown; bill, legs, and nails black. Length, about 260; measurements of four males, wing, 126 to 136; tail, 110 to 120; bill from nostril, 18 to 19; depth of bill at angle of gonys, 8 to 9.
Female.—Similar to the female of E. cærulescens, but much lighter; head, neck, and body slate-gray, somewhat darker above than below; two or three pairs of outer tail-feathers tipped with gray. Wing, 130; tail, 117; culmen from base, 25; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 22.
“This cuckoo shrike is fairly common in Cebu; it usually frequents high trees in forest where it may be found in small flocks. Seven males average: Length, 260; wing, 129; tail, 120; culmen, 28; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 23. Four females, length, 249; wing, 120; tail, 113; culmen, 28; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 21. Iris dark brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Food in one case large caterpillars.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Negros (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Keay); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester).
“Male.—Above lead-black, lighter and washed with ashy on rump and upper tail-coverts; throat, breast, wings, and tail clear black; flanks and thighs plumbeous black; under wing- and tail-coverts white; wing-coverts and outer edges of secondaries forming a white wing-bar as in Lalage; feathers of tail tipped with white.
“Female.—Plumbeous gray above and below; wings and tail as in male. Legs and beak black. Length, 264; wing, 133; tail, 127; culmen, 25; tarsus, 22.” (Steere.)
“Four males average as follows: Wing, 128; tail, 120; culmen, 30; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 21. A female, wing, 118; tail, 108; culmen, 28; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 21. Bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Common in the woods of Panay and Negros. Always found by us in flocks and usually in very high trees.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bongao (Everett); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).
Male.—Forehead, lores, sides of face and throat black; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts uniform gray; breast, abdomen, and crissum gray. Wing, 123.
Female.—Entire head and throat gray; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts uniform gray.
I have seen neither a specimen nor a detailed description62 of this species, but there should be little difficulty in identifying it.
“A male from Sulu measures: Length, 236; wing, 123; tail, 105; culmen, 26; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 24. A female, length, 229; wing, 117; tail, 98; culmen, 26; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 22. Iris very dark brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Quite rare and seems to be confined to the forest.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett).
Male.—Above bluish gray, becoming lighter on lower back, and pearl-gray on rump and tail-feathers; frontal band, lores, sides of face to above eyes, chin, throat, and fore breast glossy black; rest of under parts slate-gray; wings and tail mostly black; secondaries and wing-coverts broadly edged with ashy gray; a few of the primaries narrowly edged with ashy gray; two middle rectrices gray for three-fourths of their length and some of the outer ones tipped with gray. Length, about 230; wing, 122; tail, 100; culmen from base, 21; bill from nostril, 16; tarsus, 21.
Female.—Wings and tail as in the male, remaining plumage ashy gray or light slate-gray, becoming delicate pearl-gray on rump, abdomen, and upper and under tail-coverts. Iris dark brown; bill, legs, and nails black. Wing, 117; tail, 92; culmen from base, 21; bill from nostril, 16; tarsus, 22.
“Average length of three males, 218; wing, 115; tail, 92; culmen, 25; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 22. Two females, length, 227; wing, 115; tail, 91; culmen, 24; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 22. Iris, bill, legs, and nails black; food fruit and seeds in the individuals examined. This species is very similar to E. everetti.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Luzon (Celestino); Mindoro (McGregor).
Male.—Similar to the male of E. mindanense, but rump and upper tail-coverts bluish slate-gray like the back and not lighter pearl-gray.
Description of type.—General color bluish slate; chin, throat, fore breast, forehead, and sides of head, including lores and a wide line over eye, jet-black; alula, primary-coverts, and primaries black; inner primaries and inner feathers of alula narrowly edged with gray; secondaries black with wide edges of blue-gray, which cover nearly the entire outer web; secondary-coverts gray; inner webs of quills partly dark blue-gray, this begins as a small basal area on the short first primary, becomes greater on each succeeding quill, and reaches nearly to the tips of inner quills; a narrow edging of white on inner webs of first four quills; tail black; from below outermost pair of rectrices tipped with blue-gray (20 mm. in length); on second pair the gray tip much less, and only a trace on some of the other rectrices; central pair blue-gray above, with a subterminal black area. Length, 236; culmen from base, 22; bill from nostril, 16; wing, 127; tail, 106; tarsus, 23.
Female.—Similar to the female of E. mindanense, but rump and upper tail-coverts slate-gray like the back; abdomen and crissum gray like the breast, not lighter as in E. mindanense. Length of female type, 236; culmen from base, 22; bill from nostril, 15; wing, 126; tail, 106; tarsus, 23.
The elusive cuckoo shrike seems to be closely related to E. everetti, but no direct comparison can be made as the latter species is not represented in the Bureau of Science collection.
Bill short and slightly flattened; wing and tail nearly equal in length, or wing shorter than tail; rectrices very narrow and strongly graduated, the outermost pair being less than one-half the middle pair. Length usually less than 200 mm. Excepting the gray and white P. cinereus which is migratory, the Philippine species are glossy black and some shade of bright yellow, red, or orange.
Sulu (Guillemard, Platen, Bourns & Worcester).
Adult male.—Entire head, chin, throat, and anterior half of back glossy blue-black; lower back, rump, tail-coverts, and all of the under parts, except chin and throat, bright egg-yellow; wings glossy black; a diagonal yellow band begins on middle of fifth primary and extends on to the secondaries where it becomes wider; inner greater secondary-coverts widely tipped with yellow; four or five secondaries each with a yellow spot near tip; rectrices black, all but the central pair with wide yellow tips. Wing, 77; tail, 80; culmen from base, 14; bill from nostril, 10; tarsus, 15.
“This fine bird was several times found in flocks in Sulu, both in the forest and in the open. Iris, bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Six males average, 170 in length; wing, 77; tail, 84; culmen, 17; tarsus, 14; middle toe with claw, 15. Four females, length, 171; wing, 77; tail, 84; culmen, 16; tarsus, 14; middle toe with claw, 14.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Luzon (Whitehead, McGregor); Negros (Whitehead).
Adult male (type).—Chin, throat, neck, sides of neck, head, and mantle black with a faint dark blue gloss; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts rich pompeian-orange; lower parts, except chin and throat, rich orange, becoming more intense on under tail-coverts; thighs blackish; wings black, crossed by two bars formed by orange-colored areas on primaries, secondaries, and greater coverts; on the quills these markings have corresponding spots on the inner webs which form a diagonal band of dark buff, seen when inside of wing is examined; lining of wing pale orange; tail from above mostly black, from below mostly fiery orange; this results from the fact that the short outer rectrices are black on the basal half only, while the long central feathers are black for their whole length, the outer webs only being orange near the tips. Length, 184; wing, 80; tail, 90; culmen from base, about 14; tarsus, 16.
Adult female.—Markings somewhat as in the adult male, but the orange replaced by rich lemon-yellow, which extends over the throat, sides of neck, and chin, and also forms a narrow frontal band, the latter extending backward on each side to over center of eye; top of head and mantle black but without gloss. Wing, 79; tail, 89; culmen from base, 15; tarsus, 15.
Immature male.—Resembles the adult female in having the yellow frontal band and in having chin and throat yellow; under parts pale orange mixed with pale lemon-yellow, the under tail-coverts altogether of the latter color; rectrices pale orange, tipped with lemon-yellow, the central pair totally black. On the head and mantle there are many blackish brown feathers tipped with pale buff and other glossy black feathers of the new plumage; lower back and rump orange with a mixture of lemon-yellow; wing-markings very light orange.
Immature female.—Almost exactly like the adult female, but many feathers of head, mantle, sides of neck, and wings brown with buff margins.
Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead), Samar (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Mearns).
Male.—“An adult male has the general coloring of P. igneus, but is larger and the central tail-feathers are tipped with vermilion. The four outer primaries are black, and at least seven of the secondaries have vermilion markings on the outer webs toward their tips, as well as the broad vermilion bars across their bases. Length, 178; wing, 76; tail, 89.” (Steere.)
Young.—A young female (Mearns collection) from Samar closely resembles the corresponding plumage of P. novus from Luzon, but the bill is decidedly longer and wider in the former specimen. Wing, 78; tail, 86; culmen from base, 15; width of bill at middle of nostril, 7.
Mindanao (Goodfellow, Mearns, Clemens).
“Adult male.—Most nearly allied to P. croceus Sharpe, from the south of the Malay Peninsula, but differs in having an oblong orange-yellow mark on the terminal portion of the outer web of the six median secondary quills; the chin and throat glossy black like the crown and mantle, and the breast and under parts deep yellow, less tinged with orange. The tail-feathers are black, tipped with orange, increasing in width, so that the outer pairs have the terminal half orange. ‘Iris, bill, and feet black.’ (Goodfellow.) Length, 165; wing, 84; tail, 81; tarsus, 15.
“Adult female.—Differs considerably from the female of P. croceus in having a narrow bright yellow band across the forehead, continued backward over the lores in a short superciliary stripe; the chin, throat, and all the yellow parts of the plumage bright yellow instead of orange; the six median secondary quills with an oblong yellow mark on the terminal half of the outer web. From the female of P. leytensis Steere it is easily distinguished by the narrower and much brighter yellow band across the forehead, as well as by the shining blackish gray crown and mantle.” (Grant.)
The male of Mrs. Johnstone’s minivet is very similar to P. novus, but the under parts, especially the tail-coverts, are more yellowish and the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are orange-red instead of pompeian-orange. A male from Lake Lanao, Mindanao, measures, wing, 81; tail, 83; culmen from base, 15; width of bill at middle of nostril, 6.
Palawan (Steere, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White). Western China, Malay Peninsula, southern Tenasserim, Sumatra, Borneo.
Adult male.—Entire head, chin, throat, and upper back glossy blue-black; lower back, rump, tail-coverts, and under parts bright pompeian-orange or fiery red; base of each feather white with a wash of pale yellow between the white base and red tip; thighs black; wings black; primaries, except four outermost, and secondaries crossed by a diagonal band of bright orange-red; on inner webs the band is yellow; inner greater coverts tipped with orange-red and forming part of the wing-patch; four middle rectrices glossy black, the other rectrices black with apical one-third to one-half red. Iris dark brown; bill and feet black. Length, 162; wing, 77; tail, 76; culmen from base, 13; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 16.
“Adult female.—General color above dull ashy gray, the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts fine vermilion; four median tail-feathers black, the remainder vermilion with black bases, gradually increasing in extent toward the inner ones; quills black, with a broad bar of orange near the base of the quills, extending along the outer web of some of the inner primaries; ear-coverts gray; lores, feathers round the eye, cheeks, and under surface of body bright yellow, inclining to orange on the flanks and under tail-coverts; thighs blackish; under wing-coverts and edge of wing yellow. Length, 140; culmen, 13; wing, 70; tail, 70; tarsus, 15.” (Sharpe.)
“Two males from Palawan average, 154 in length; wing, 72; tail, 74; culmen, 16; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 14. Iris dark; bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Breeding in Palawan in December. Usually keeps to the tops of high trees in the forest but occasionally comes out into the mangrove swamps.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Luzon (Leclancher, Heriot, Whitehead, McGregor); Mindoro (Everett, McGregor); Palawan (Lempriere, Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, White). China and eastern Siberia; in winter to Pegu, Borneo, and Malay Peninsula.
Male.—Nasal plumes, lores, crown, and nape black; forehead white; cheeks and ear-coverts white, the latter tipped with black; rest of upper parts ashy gray; under parts entirely white; thighs gray; wings blackish brown; secondaries with a narrow white bar across the middle of their length and some of their edges gray; primaries with white patches near middle of inner webs, and some with a white spot on outer web; rectrices black, all but the middle pair with long white tips. Length, about 200; wing, 98; tail, 95; culmen from base, 14; bill from nostril, 9.5; tarsus, 16.
Female.—Similar to the male but crown, nape, and post-ocular area gray like the back; sides of breast mottled or obsoletely barred with gray. Wing, 97; tail, 98; culmen from base, 14; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 15.
This plain-colored species appears in the Philippines during migration only and is, as a rule, very rare. At times, however, it is found in considerable numbers.
“We shot a single specimen in Palawan. Length, 190; wing, 96; tail, 100; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 15. Bill, legs, feet, and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bill moderate in length and rather slender, as deep as wide at nostril; wing decidedly longer than tail; rectrices moderately broad; tarsus strong. Plumage black, white, and gray; tail black, tipped with white; wing black with a large white patch on secondaries and on greater and median coverts.
Luzon (Martens, Heriot, Everett, Whitehead, Steere Exp.); Mindoro (Steere Exp., McGregor); Semirara (Worcester).64
Male.—Forehead, crown, sides of head to lower border of eye, hind neck, and mantle black, glossed with green; lower back, rump, and tail-coverts white, the back grayish; entire under parts white; wings and tail black, glossed with green; inner secondaries and greater coverts with wide edges of white; inner median coverts entirely white; quills, except first primary, edged with white on inner web; two outermost pairs of rectrices tipped with white. Length, about 210. A male from Mindoro measures: Wing, 119; tail, 90; culmen from base, 21; bill from nostril, 14; tarsus, 23.
Female.—Above light ashy gray, nearly white on tail-coverts; feathers of head and mantle with dusky shaft-lines; below white; breast obscurely barred with gray; thighs gray with darker shaft-lines; wings and tail as in the male but with less white on median coverts. A female from Mindoro, wing, 112; tail, 85; culmen from base, 21; bill from nostril, 14.5; tarsus, 23.
Leyte (Whitehead); Mindanao (Steere Exp., Celestino); Samar (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
Male.—In color exactly like the male of L. melanoleuca, but distinguished by its smaller size. Length, about 200. A male from northern Mindanao measures: Wing, 104; tail, 81; culmen from base, 21; bill from nostril, 15; tarsus, 20.
Female.—Differs from the female of L. melanoleuca in having the chin, throat, and breast plumbeous gray with somewhat obscure gray bars.
“Steere’s lalage is not very common; a pair shot in Samar had been feeding on fruit and insects. Iris dark brown; legs, feet, and nails black; upper mandible black, lower nearly so. The male measures, 197 in length; wing, 107; tail, 81; culmen, 25; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 21. A female, length, 203; wing, 106; tail, 82; culmen, 26; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 18.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Ca-hu-raó hu-raó, Ticao; sa-lac-sá-can, Cagayancillo; bu-ga-ung-ón, Siquijor; ibong-pá-re, Manila.
Bantayan (McGregor); Banton (Celestino); Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Cagayan Sulu (Guillemard, McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Caluya (Porter); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Meyer, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cuyo (McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Everett); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (McGregor); Mindanao (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Keay); Palawan (Bourns & Worcester); Panay (Murray, Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Sibay (McGregor & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor). Malay Peninsula, Nicobar Islands, Sumatra, Java, Borneo.
Male.—Very similar to L. melanoleuca, but much smaller and with a broad white line from forehead over eye to nape. Length, about 180; other measurements from a male taken in Bohol are: Wing, 92; tail, 73; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 19.
The immature male resembles the adult female.
Female.—Differs from the male in having the upper surface bluish gray with blackish shaft-lines, the white band over eye less distinct, and the breast, sides, and flanks closely barred with narrow gray lines. A female from Bohol measures: Wing, 92; tail, 72; culmen from base, 17; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 20.
Nestling.—Two nestlings from Banton, June 30, 1905, have the feathers of upper parts dark ashy brown with wide tips of light earthy buff; under parts white with spots and longitudinal lines of blackish brown, the wings are similar to those of the adult, but the white areas are washed with buff.
The pied lalage is widely distributed and abundant; the other two Philippine species are comparatively rare.