Bill slender and compressed; culmen gently curved and having a decided keel; a notch near the tip of upper mandible and, in some genera, another notch near tip of lower mandible; nostrils pierced in the anterior part of a membrane the base of which may be covered with short plumes, but the nostrils always exposed except in Irena; wing longer than tail; first primary little more than one-half the second, the latter shorter than third; fourth and fifth usually forming the tip of the wing; tail square, or slightly rounded, rarely decidedly graduate; tarsus short, nearly always less than culmen from base, and seldom greater than middle toe with claw. In some genera there are a number of hairs springing from the nape, but these are not greatly developed, except in Irena and Trichophorus.
Wings short and curved to the body; secondaries nearly as long as primaries; a large tuft of long, white, silky feathers on each side of lower breast; tarsus slightly greater than culmen from base; lower parts bright yellow; wings black, barred with white.
Palawan (Steere, Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Celestino, White). Sumatra and Borneo.
Male.—Forehead, lores, supercilia, sides of face, and under parts golden yellow, becoming slightly paler on abdomen and tail-coverts; above yellowish green; upper tail-coverts, wings, and tail black; outer webs of inner primaries narrowly edged with pale yellow; inner webs, except that of first primary, broadly edged with white; secondaries edged with white on both webs; lesser wing-coverts black; median coverts with wide white tips forming a bar; greater coverts edged with white near their tips forming a second bar. A male from Palawan measures: Wing, 66; tail, 51; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 20.
Female.—Above similar to the male, but forehead more greenish, and tail and coverts green like the back; under parts lighter yellow than in the male; wings blackish and the tail-markings more or less washed with yellowish green. A female measures: Wing, 62; tail, 51; culmen from base, 17.5; tarsus, 18.
“Very common in Palawan but not found by us in the Calamianes. Five males average: Length, 146; wing, 63; tail, 50; culmen, 19; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 16. Four females, length, 138; wing, 60; tail, 52; culmen, 18; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 16. Iris light yellow to grayish white; legs and feet slate-blue; nails darker than feet; upper mandible black, gray along gape; lower mandible grayish white.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
A distinct notch near the tip of each mandible; tarsus slightly less than culmen from base; difference between the length of primaries and of secondaries equal to about two-thirds of tarsus. Plumage nearly all bright grass-green, the difference between the sexes very slight.
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Male.—Grass-green, much darker above than below; lores and a small patch at base of lower mandible light blue, behind the latter a moustachial line of lilac, above this and below eye a band of golden yellow; eye surrounded by a circle of purple feathers; chin and throat golden yellow; lesser wing-coverts on bend of wing bluish purple; remainder of secondary-coverts and secondaries edged with green; alula and primary-coverts blue, slightly washed with purple; primaries black, edged with light blue on outer webs and with white on inner webs; rectrices, below dark gray; above blue, washed with green, shafts black. A male from Palawan measures: W0ing, 89; tail, 72; culmen from base, 21; bill from nostril, 14.5; tarsus, 15.
Female.—Scarcely differs in color from the male, but the moustachial streak dark purplish blue. A female measures: Wing, 82; tail, 65; culmen from base, 22; tarsus, 17.
“Common in Palawan and in the Calamianes, but difficult to see on account of its color. Found in the forests, second growth, and mangrove swamps. Seven males average: Length, 189; wing, 90; tail, 67; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 17; culmen, 23. Four females, length, 182; wing, 83; tail, 63; culmen, 23; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 18. Iris brown; legs and feet slate-gray; bill black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Platen, Celestino).
Male and female.—Nearly the entire plumage leaf- or grass-green, much darker above than below; lores, ring about eye, ear-coverts, and chin washed with light yellow; outer webs of some primaries and inner webs of all the remiges and rectrices, edged with chamois-yellow; lower thighs chamois-yellow; shafts of flight-feathers black. Three males from Cebu measure: Wing, 91 to 96; tail, 74 to 76; bill from nostril, 16 to 17. Three females, wing, 89 to 91; tail, 72 to 76; bill from nostril, 15 to 16.
This species, which is very distinct from C. palawanensis, is rare in the only islands where it has been found.
“Found only in the forest and breeding in June. Nine males average: Length, 200; wing, 92; tail, 75; culmen, 25; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 20. Four females, length, 183; wing, 86; tail, 70; culmen, 24; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 20. Iris dark brown to black; upper mandible almost black, lower drab.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Nuchal hairs well developed, their exposed portions equal to about two-thirds the length of bill from nostril; nostrils hidden by short close-set feathers; a notch near the tip of each mandible; primaries longer than secondaries by much more than tarsus; tarsus less than bill from nostril; tail slightly rounded. Colors blue and black. In the thin and tender skin and hidden nostrils this genus shows some affinity to the Campophagidæ; the well-developed nuchal hairs and short tarsus indicate a close relationship to the bulbuls.
Luzon (Meyer, Möllendorff, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor, Celestino).
Male.—Forehead, lores, a wide band over eye, entire sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and fore breast velvety black; rest of under parts deep blue; tail-coverts tipped with cobalt and the black bases of feathers showing through the blue to some extent; crown and nape bright cobalt; mantle, back, and rump deep blue, the black bases showing through to some extent as on the under parts; upper tail-coverts tipped with cobalt; wings black; lesser coverts tipped with dark blue; median and greater coverts with wide tips of cobalt, forming two bands; alula-feathers and primary-coverts narrowly edged with dark blue; inner secondaries broadly edged with cobalt; rectrices black below; above, outermost pair all black, the middle pair all blue, the others blue on outer webs. Bill, legs, and nails black. Length, about 260; wing, 135; tail, 112; culmen from base, 30; bill from nostril, 21; tarsus, 21.
Female.—Differs from the male in having the black on head and throat duller and extending for a less distance on the breast; blue of under parts slightly lighter. Wing, 135; tail, 113; culmen from base, 27; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 18.
Leyte (Steere Exp.); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
“Adult male.—Crown of head and nape deep cobalt-blue as in I. cyanogastra; sides of neck, back, and scapulars velvety black; lower back washed with cobalt, this becoming rich cobalt on upper tail-coverts; tail black, washed with deep cobalt; wings marked with cobalt much as in cyanogastra; under surface deep velvety black, feathers of abdomen slightly washed with blue; under tail-coverts deep cobalt.
“Adult female.—Chin and throat velvety black; breast, abdomen, and flanks purplish blue. Size that of cyanogastra. I. ellæ can be readily distinguished from I. cyanogastra, its nearest ally, by its black back.” (Steere).
“This fine Irena was discovered by Bourns the first time that we succeeded in reaching the woods back of the town of Catbalogan in Samar, in 1888. Three males average, 252 in length; wing, 125; tail, 102; culmen, 31; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 23. A female, length, 257; wing, 123; tail, 103; culmen, 31; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 23. Bill, legs, feet, and nails black; iris red.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Bourns & Worcester).
Adult.—Very similar to Irena cyanogastra, but the upper back and mantle black instead of deep blue. Iris cherry red; bill, legs, and nails black. Length, about 230. A male from Basilan measures: Wing, 121; tail, 102; culmen from base, 27; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 18. A female measures: Wing, 118; tail, 98; culmen from base, 28; tarsus, 20.
“This fairy bluebird is a strictly deep woods form and a very fine singer; it is rather shy, but can readily be procured, as it never remains silent for any length of time. It is often difficult to distinguish from Dicrurus striatus when seen at a little distance, unless its tail is in plain view. All of the Philippine Irenidæ are difficult to collect in good condition. They have very thin skins and loose feathers, and frequently ruin themselves in falling. They all feed on fruit. Ten males from Basilan average: Length, 236; wing, 120; tail, 98; culmen, 30; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 22. Eleven females, length, 229; wing, 116; tail, 96; culmen, 30; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 22.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Balabac (?65); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Male.—Crown, nape, hind neck, entire back, rump, upper and under tail-coverts, lesser and median wing-coverts, and tips of inner greater coverts light turquoise-blue; rest of plumage, including forehead, lores, a wide line over eye, and entire sides of head and neck deep black. Length, 240; wing, 127; tail, 99; culmen from base, 26; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 16.
Female.—Very different from the male, being dull verditer-blue; feathers of rump and upper and under tail-coverts tipped with brighter blue; primaries dark brown; secondaries and rectrices dark brown, their exposed edges washed with verditer-blue. Wing, 120; tail, 99; culmen from base, 26; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 18.
“Tweeddale’s fairy bluebird was fairly common about fruit trees in the forest and was found abundantly on Mount Pulgar at an elevation of about 750 meters. Five males from Palawan average: Length, 245; wing, 123; tail, 95; culmen, 31; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 23. Four females, length, 243; wing, 122; tail, 92; culmen, 31; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 24. Males and females from the Calamianes average slightly less in length. Iris red; bill, legs, feet, and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Longest rictal bristles about one-half the length of tarsus; nuchal hairs moderate in length; bill slender and compressed; a notch near tip of upper mandible, none in lower mandible; tarsus much less than culmen from base; difference between length of primaries and secondaries greater than length of tarsus; tail slightly rounded; plumage brown and gray, under parts sparsely spotted with white.
Sa-mot′, Calayan.
Calayan (McGregor); Fuga (Whitehead, McGregor, Mearns).
Male and female.—Top of head and crest dark brown, the feathers edged with slate-gray; back, rump, and tail-coverts warm brown or light seal-brown, the feathers edged with olive-gray; wings and tail dark brown; rectrices edged with olive-gray; chin, fore part of throat, and cheeks hoary gray; a band of dark reddish brown across ear-coverts and lower throat, many of the feathers of throat with white spots on the tips of the shafts; rest of under parts ashy brown, becoming fulvous on flanks and thighs; feathers on median part of breast tipped with white; middle of abdomen white. Iris reddish brown; bill, legs, and nails dark brown. Five males from Fuga measure: Wing, 123 to 126; tail, 119 to 124; culmen from base, 27 to 29; bill from nostril, 16.5 to 18; tarsus, 19 to 23.
“Adult male and female.—Most nearly allied to H. squamiceps and H. pryeri, having the chestnut ear-coverts united by a band of the same color extending across the throat, but the top of the head, which is almost devoid of a crest, and the neck are brown, like the back, instead of dark slate-gray; and the white tips to the feathers of the breast and belly are almost entirely absent, or only faintly indicated along the middle line of the under parts. Length, 267; culmen, 29; wing, 123; tail, 117; tarsus, 21.5.” (Grant.)
Pi-uc′, Batan.
Babuyan Claro (McGregor); Batan (Mearns, McGregor).
Diagnosis.—“Exactly like topotypes of Hypsipetes fugensis Grant, but larger, and with the forehead rufescent instead of cinereous. Measurements.—Type (skin of adult male).—Length, 262; wing, 130; tail, 127; culmen (chord), 28; bill from anterior margin of nostril, 20; tarsus, 26; middle toe with claw, about 27. Average of three adult males including the type: Length, 264; wing, 128; tail, 127; culmen (chord), 28; bill from anterior margin of nostril, 26; middle toe with claw, about 27. Adult female: Length, 245; wing, 116; tail, 112; culmen (chord), 25; bill from anterior margin of nostril, 17.5; tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw, about 25.5.” (Mearns.)
Five males measure as follows: Wing, 124 to 129; tail, 116 to 123; culmen from base, 30 to 32; bill from nostril, 18 to 19; tarsus, 22 to 25.
Other than the size there appears to me to be no appreciable difference between H. fugensis and H. batanensis. The Batan red-eared bulbul is very abundant in Batan Island where it was found breeding in May and June. The eggs are salmon-pink, spotted with shades of umber-brown. Six eggs measure from 30.2 to 32.7 mm. in length and from 20 to 22 mm. in width.
Camiguin N. (Worcester, McGregor).
Diagnosis.—Similar to H. fugensis and to H. batanensis but larger; bill and tail longer; flanks less rufescent. Male, type: Length in flesh, 295; wing, 136; tail, 124; culmen from base, 33; bill from anterior margin of nostril, 21; tarsus, 25.
The specimens of Hypsipetes obtained in Camiguin Island are in such poor condition that it is impossible to give color characters, but I believe adults in good plumage will be found to differ considerably from both H. fugensis and H. batanensis.
This genus differs from Hypsipetes in having longer rictal bristles, the longest being decidedly more than one-half as long as the tarsus, and in having the nuchal hairs more strongly developed. The three yellow plumaged species, Iole striaticeps, everetti, and haynaldi, approach Criniger (=Trichophorus) both in color and in the development of nuchal hairs, but in the latter genus the bill is relatively shorter and the culmen is more curved.
Palawan (Whitehead).
“Adult female.—General color above olive-brown, with narrow whitish shaft-streaks to the feathers of the mantle and back; the lower back and rump uniform, the feathers of the latter very loose and fluffy and with pale tips; lesser wing-coverts brown, with a wash of olive; alula and primary-coverts dusky brown, with a reddish tinge and washed with olive externally; quills dark brown, externally pale olive-brown, rather more rufous toward the base of the secondaries; upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers light reddish brown with a slight edging of olive; crown of head brown, slightly contrasting with the back, all the feathers with narrow ashy white shaft-streaks; lores white, with a yellowish tinge; feathers below the eye and ear-coverts light brown, washed with yellow and having narrow whitish shaft-streaks; cheeks and under surface of body ashy white, with a strong tinge of yellow, the breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts clearer yellow; sides of body and flanks washed with olive-brown; thighs pale yellow; under wing-coverts and axillars pale yellow; quills below dusky brown, yellowish along the edge of the inner web. Length, 168; culmen, 18; wing, 81; tail, 70; tarsus, 19.” (Sharpe.)
Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Mindanao (Everett, Goodfellow, Celestino); Panaon (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
Adult male.—Above bright olive-yellow; primaries, secondaries, and rectrices mostly dark brown, their exposed webs olive-yellow; shafts of the rectrices light yellow below; sides of face faintly washed with brown; feathers on jaw with black shafts; chin yellow, the shafts of the feathers black and extending beyond the webs; throat and fore breast light rufescent brown, washed with yellow; rest of under parts yellow; sides, flanks, and upper thighs darker; middle of abdomen, lower thighs, crissum, axillars, and wing-lining light egg-yellow. Length of a male, 198; wing, 116; tail, 105; culmen from base, 28; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 20. The female is similar to the male.
“Everett’s yellow bulbul is a deep-woods bird, and a hill bird as well. In Samar I. philippinensis [=gularis] is found about the open fields and in the forests of the lowlands, but as soon as one goes a few hundred feet up on the hills I. everetti takes its place. Three males average, 248 in length; wing, 112; tail, 96; tarsus, 20.5; middle toe with claw, 24; culmen, 27. A female measures, 229 in length; wing, 96; tail, 89; culmen, 27; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 22. Iris chocolate-brown; legs, feet, and nails leaden; upper mandible nearly black, lower gray.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bongao (Everett); Sibutu (Everett); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).
Adult.—Similar to Iole everetti, but smaller and the upper parts darker and browner; wings much darker, their exposed webs olive-brown; edges of rectrices darker; under parts lighter yellow; axillars and wing-lining pale yellow. A male measures: Wing, 109; tail, 100; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 18; tarsus, 20. A female, wing, 104; tail, 100; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 18; tarsus, 21.
“Haynald’s yellow bulbul is extremely abundant in Sulu and Tawi Tawi. It is a woods bird which does not seem to come out into the open. Fifteen males average: Length, 240; wing, 108; tail, 99; culmen, 27; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 23. Twelve females average, length, 232; wing, 106; tail, 98; culmen, 27; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 22. Iris reddish brown; legs, feet, and nails light brown to slaty brown; upper mandible black, lower leaden gray.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Murray, Everett, Steere Exp.).
Adult.—Forehead, crown, and occiput dark brown, shafts of the feathers blackish and their edges slate; rest of upper parts lighter brown, the feathers with olivaceous edges and ashy or slate-gray tips; wings dark brown, the outer webs of the feathers lighter and narrowly edged with olivaceous; tail similar; lores and sides of head dull brown; chin, throat, and fore breast tawny or light tan-brown, darker on breast; sides of breast washed with olive; shafts of chin-feathers black and produced beyond the webs; shafts of breast-feathers a trifle lighter than their webs; rest of the under parts white, the feathers edged with pale yellow, producing a streaked appearance; flanks more or less washed with brown; axillars and under wing-coverts white, washed with pale yellow. The sexes are similar in colors. A male from Basilan measures: Length, 255; wing, 123; tail, 105; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 17; tarsus, 21. A female from Basilan, wing, 117; tail, 114; culmen from base, 25; bill from nostril, 16; tarsus, 21.
“The rufous-throated bulbul is common in Mindanao and Basilan; it is found along edges of forest, in second growth, and in guava bushes. Two males average: Length, 238; wing, 111; tail, 98; culmen, 26; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 23. A female, length, 241; wing, 106; tail, 95; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 22. Iris dark brown; legs and feet brown to nearly black; bill black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tug-bi-á, Bohol; pa-nu-cá, Lubang; tam-si, Manila.
Banton (Celestino); Bohol (Steere Exp., McGregor); Cebu (Meyer, Murray, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp.); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Kittlitz, Meyer, Möllendorff, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Mindanao (Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Goodfellow); Panaon (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester).
Adult.—Similar to Iole rufigularis, but smaller, and easily recognized by the more rufescent chin and throat and the very distinct white, or whitish, shaft-lines on these parts. The sexes are similar in colors. Extreme and average measurements of ten males from Mariveles, Bataan Province, Luzon, are as follows: Wing, 96 to 104 (100); tail, 88 to 90 (89); exposed culmen, 20 to 22 (20.5); bill from nostril, 15 to 16 (15.5); tarsus, 18 to 21 (20). Ten females from the same locality measure: Wing, 91 to 100 (94); tail, 81 to 89 (85); exposed culmen, 19 to 22 (19.5); bill from nostril, 15 to 16 (15.5); tarsus, 19 to 22 (20).
“Found about fruit trees in the forest, but more abundant in the open country, so far as our observation goes. Masbate birds are larger than those from the other islands, as the following measurements will show.
“Six males from Masbate average: Length, 229; wing, 106; tail, 92; culmen, 46; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 23. Six females, length, 226; wing, 99; tail, 88; culmen, 27; tarsus, 18.5; middle toe with claw, 21. [The Masbate bulbul is I. guimarasensis].
“Four males from Cebu, length, 219; wing, 100; tail, 90; culmen, 51; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 21. Four females from the same place, length, 205; wing, 94; tail, 83; culmen, 25; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 21.
“Iris chocolate-brown; legs, feet, and nails dark brown; bill black, lower mandible sometimes dark brown.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Two eggs of the Philippine bulbul collected by Whitehead at Cape Engaño, Luzon, in May, 1895, are described thus: “Shape ovate. Ground-color pure white, thickly speckled all over with brown, lake, and pale violet under-markings. Measurements 29 mm. by 20 mm. The nest which is constructed of fine roots, like that of other bulbuls, was placed in a bush in the vicinity of the forest.” (Grant and Whitehead.)
Pá-la-go, Ticao, used for Pycnonotus also.
Bantayan (McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Keay); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor).
Adult.—Very similar to Iole gularis from which it differs only in being slightly larger and in having the throat and breast paler. Ten males from Masbate and Ticao yield the following extreme and average measurements: Wing, 102 to 111 (107); tail, 86 to 94 (90); exposed culmen, 22 to 25 (23); bill from nostril, 15 to 18 (17); tarsus, 19.5 to 23 (21). Nine females from the same localities measure: Wing, 98 to 106 (99); tail, 87 to 99 (88); exposed culmen, 20.5 to 25 (21); bill from nostril, 15 to 17 (16); tarsus, 18 to 22 (20).
“Doctor Steere separates the Iole from Panay, Guimaras, and Negros from the Luzon, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, and Mindanao birds. He states that I. guimarasensis has the ‘size and general coloring of I. rufigularis, with the light shaft-streaks of I. philippinensis.’ The latter differences would not seem to be of special value in differentiating it from I. philippinensis and we can find nothing in the size or color of our large series of specimens from the central Philippines to warrant us in separating them from typical I. philippinensis [=gularis].
“Steere mentions the very different note of the Cebu birds. We were unable to perceive the slightest difference in the notes of the birds in question and incline to the opinion that the Doctor must have heard the note of I. monticola when he crossed over into Cebu.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Porter); Semirara (Worcester).
Adult.—Very much like Iole gularis, but chin and throat light drab-brown; whitish shaft-streaks less conspicuous than in either I. gularis or I. guimarasensis; sides of breast and flanks grayer; under parts with fewer streaks of pale yellow. Ten males measure: Wing, 102 to 107 (105); tail, 90 to 99 (95); exposed culmen, 21 to 24 (23); bill from nostril, 15 to 18 (17); tarsus, 18 to 21 (20); Four females, wing, 98 to 99 (98.5); tail, 91 to 95 (92); exposed culmen, 21 to 22 (21.5); bill from nostril, 15 to 16.5 (16); tarsus, 19 to 20 (19.8).
“Quite common in Mindoro. Two males average: Length, 222; wing, 100.5; tail, 91; culmen, 26; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 22. A female, length, 235; wing, 97; tail, 90; culmen, 27; tarsus, 18.5; middle toe with claw, 21. Iris chocolate-brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails leaden.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
On April 2, 1905, I collected, in Mindoro, a nest with three eggs of this species. The ground-color of the eggs is white, under shell-markings faint lavender, and entire surface thickly and uniformly marked with elongated and twisted spots of reddish brown. The eggs measure: 26.1 by 18.2, 25.4 by 18, and 25.1 by 19.
The nest was composed of several leaves which were held in place by threads of a black hair-like fungus; cobweb and green moss in small quantities also entered into the construction. The lining consisted of a quantity of long slender fibers.
Tig-ba-ya, Siquijor.
Siquijor (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).
Adult.—Forehead and entire top of head seal-brown; rest of upper parts, wings, and tail lighter brown, the feathers edged with dark olivaceous; tips of greater and median wing-coverts whitish, or light brown, forming two wing-bars; sides of head and neck light brown; chin, throat, and breast brown with a slight olivaceous wash, the feathers with white shaft-streaks, the streaks on chin and throat very wide; middle of lower breast, abdomen, under tail-coverts, axillars, and wing-lining white, faintly washed with pale yellow; sides, flanks, and thighs light drab-brown. A male measures: Wing, 133; tail, 121; culmen from base, 32; bill from nostril, 21; tarsus, 23. A female measures: Wing, 122; tail, 111; culmen from base, 31; bill from nostril, 20; tarsus, 23.
This distinct species may be recognized by its entirely seal-brown head.
“The Siquijor bulbul is found about low bushes in open fields, often in flocks. Twelve males average: Length, 279; wing, 132; tail, 118; culmen, 31; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 25. Four females, wing, 121; tail, 109; culmen, 30; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 23. Iris chocolate-brown; legs, feet, and nails brown, bottoms of feet yellowish; upper mandible black, lower black to dark brown.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Romblon (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).
Adult.—Entire top of head slate-gray, bases of the feathers olive-brown, the shafts nearly black; chin and throat white, streaked with pale yellow; otherwise very similar to Iole siquijorensis. A male measures: Wing, 126; tail, 115; culmen from base, 32; bill from nostril, 21; tarsus, 22. A female, wing, 122; tail, 111; culmen from base, 30; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 24.
“The ashy-headed bulbul occurs in the open, but is far more abundant in the woods. Eleven males from Romblon measure: Length, 288; wing, 131; tail, 115; culmen, 35; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 26. Four females from the same locality, length, 274; wing, 122; tail, 109; culmen, 33; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 25. Males and females from Tablas average slightly less in length, but are otherwise identical with Romblon birds. Iris, legs, feet, and nails very dark brown; bill black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Cebu (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor).
Adult.—Very similar to Iole siquijorensis but smaller; top of head lighter seal-brown; forehead washed with slate-gray; mantle and back more ruddy; ear-coverts tawny; chin and fore throat almost solid white. A male measures: Wing, 127; tail, 117; culmen from base, 32; bill from nostril, 21; tarsus, 22.
“Iole monticola differs from Iole siquijorensis, its nearest ally, in its more ruddy upper surface, its lighter head with a wash of ashy gray on front of crown, in its lighter ear-coverts and tawny throat, and in its lighter under wing- and tail-coverts. So far as our observation goes it is a highland form. It was invariably met with by us in the forest on the tops and sides of the hills in central Cebu and was never seen in open or flat country.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
“Three males average: Length, 267; wing, 121; tail, 111; culmen, 31; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 24. A female measures, 260 in length; wing, 115; tail, 102; culmen, 31; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 23. Iris, legs, feet, and nails dark brown; bill nearly black. Breeding in June.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Occipital crest short and pointed; eye surrounded by a narrow wattle; bill from base about equal to tarsus; rictal bristles long, the longest much more than bill from nostril; rectrices graduated and tipped with white; difference between lengths of outermost and middle tail-feathers more than length of bill from nostril.
Basilan (Steere Exp., McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Luzon (Meyer, Steere Exp., McGregor, Whitehead); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Goodfellow, Celestino); Panaon (Everett); Samar (Bourns & Worcester).
Adult.—Top of head dark brown, shaft-lines seal-brown; rest of upper parts dark olive-green, the shafts of the feathers darker; feathers of lower back long and thick-set, forming a bunch which covers the feathers of the rump; the long feathers with dark brown subterminal spots and some of the lateral ones tipped with white washed with pale yellow; rectrices brown, each with a subterminal blackish area and a distinct white tip; sides of head dark drab; chin and throat drab-gray; breast ashy brown, this color, faintly washed with olivaceous, extends onto sides of neck and breast and onto flanks; rest of under parts white with some streaks of pale yellow on breast; axillars and wing-lining white, washed with light yellow. Iris gray; eyelids lemon-yellow; bill and feet black. Length, about 185. A male from Luzon measures: Wing, 80; tail, 75; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 16. A male from Bohol, wing, 78; tail, 73; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 17. A male from Basilan, wing, 80; tail, 80; culmen from base, 17; bill from nostril, 10.5; tarsus, 17.
In specimens from Basilan the bill is slightly longer and the white spots on the rectrices occupy more space than in specimens from Luzon.
“The wattled bulbul is fairly common about fruit trees in the forest and in open fields. A male measures: Length, 187; wing, 78; tail, 81; culmen, 16; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 17. A female, length, 174; wing, 78; tail, 80; culmen, 16; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 17. Iris dark brown; legs, feet, and nails brown; bill black; eye-wattles yellow.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
The Philippine species of the genus Microtarsus is characterized by its long tail-coverts, which are two-thirds the length of tail and nearly as long as the outermost pair of rectrices; rectrices graduated, and tipped with bright yellow; the colors are black and yellow.
Palawan (Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Celestino, White). Malay Peninsula, Burmese provinces, eastern Bengal, Sumatra, Java, Borneo.
Adult.—Entire head, chin, and throat black, faintly glossed with green and purple; mantle and back olive-yellow, gradually becoming citron-yellow on rump and tail-coverts; feathers of lower back long and thick-set, overhanging the rump, each feather with a subterminal black band; breast and sides olive-yellow, becoming lighter posteriorly and bright egg-yellow on middle of abdomen and on under tail-coverts; wings mostly black, but the secondaries and their coverts broadly edged with citron-yellow; inner webs of quills edged with white; axillars and wing-lining pale yellow; basal part of tail olive-green, followed by a wide black subterminal bar; tips of rectrices bright egg-yellow. The sexes are similar in colors, but the female is a little the darker. Length, about 165. A male measures: Wing, 77; tail, 67; culmen from base, 16.5; bill from nostril, 10; tarsus, 15. A female, wing, 75; tail, 67; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 12.
“The black-headed bulbul is fairly common in Palawan. It is usually seen about trees and bushes in the open, but is occasionally met with in the forest, above the tree tops. Seven males average: Length, 170; wing, 76; tail, 68; culmen, 16.5; tarsus, 14; middle toe with claw, 16. Three females, length, 167; wing, 75; tail, 69; culmen, 15; tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 16. Iris bright blue; bill, legs, feet, and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
This genus resembles Irena in having long nuchal hairs and a rather short, slightly compressed, bill, but in Trichophorus the nostrils are exposed and the wings are relatively short and rounded, the primaries exceeding the secondaries by about the length of tarsus; head slightly crested; the colors are olive-yellow, light yellow, brown, and gray.
Balabac (Steere Exp., Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Adult.—Top of head dark tan-brown; back and rump olive-green; upper tail-coverts and rectrices tan-brown, edged with tawny olive; lores, sides of face, a narrow supercilium, and ear-coverts light gray, the last streaked with white; chin, throat, and breast clear light gray with white shaft-lines; feathers of breast edged with yellow; rest of under parts yellow, darker on crissum and slightly olivaceous on sides and flanks; wings brown, quills edged with ruddy olive on outer webs and with ocherous-white on inner webs; axillars and wing-lining pale yellow. Sexes similar in colors. Length, about 230. A male measures: Wing, 108; tail, 97; culmen from base, 23; bill from nostril, 14; tarsus, 22. A female, wing, 100; tail, 92; culmen from base, 21; bill from nostril, 13; tarsus, 20.
“This bulbul is very common and feeds always in the woods, so far as our observation goes. Four males average: Length, 213; wing, 104; tail, 92; culmen, 23; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 21. A female, length, 209; wing, 100; tail, 88; culmen, 23; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 22. Iris reddish to chocolate-brown; legs, feet, and nails very light brown; bill brown.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Palawan (Steere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).
Adult.—Above scarcely different from T. frater, except that the feathers on top of head have light shaft-lines; ear-coverts olive-green with whitish shaft-lines; lores white, mixed with olive-green; cheeks, chin, throat, and breast pale yellow, streaked with white; rest of under parts pale lemon-yellow, olivaceous along the sides and flanks; crissum light ocherous-yellow. The sexes are similar; length, about 190. A male measures: Wing, 82; tail, 76; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 18. A female, wing, 81; tail, 72; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 18.
“Common in Palawan; feeds about bushes in the open, frequently in good sized flocks. Four males measure: Length, 185; wing, 84; tail, 73; culmen, 20; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 18. Three females, length, 174; wing, 81; tail, 74; culmen, 19.8; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 18. Eyes usually straw-yellow; in one case light hazel; legs, feet, and nails light brown; upper mandible nearly black, lower gray.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bill short, when measured from base, less than tarsus; rictal bristles usually less than bill from nostril; wing short and rounded; the primaries exceed secondaries by less than length of tarsus; a short crest which is not very evident in dry skins.
Pá-la-go, Ticao; this name also used for Iole. Luc-lac, Manila; cul-cul, in general.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (Everett, Steere Exp., McGregor); Caluya (Porter); Cebu (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Everett, Whitehead, Bartsch); Libagao (Porter); Luzon (Meyer, Möllendorff, Everett, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Bartsch); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Murray, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Goodfellow, Celestino); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Nipa (Everett); Panay (Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (McGregor); Samar (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester, Bartsch); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor).
Adult.—Middle of forehead and crown seal-brown, bordered on each side by a band of white extending from base of bill over eyes to sides of occiput; lores and a ring around eye black; above including wings and tail dark brown, the feathers fringed with earthy or ocherous brown; ear-coverts brown; spot below eye, jaw, and most of the under parts white; breast and sides with distinct brown shaft-streaks; flanks and thighs brown; abdomen washed with pale yellow; crissum lemon-yellow; axillars and wing-lining white, washed with yellow. Sexes similar in color. A male from Mindanao measures: Wing, 76; tail, 73; culmen from base, 17; bill from nostril, 9.5; tarsus, 20. A female from Basilan, wing, 78; tail, 77; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 10; tarsus, 20.
“The guava bulbul is one of the commonest of Philippine birds; it is called ‘cul-cul’ by the natives. Very abundant about fruit trees and bushes in the open fields, and in scrub and second growth; much rarer in deep forest. Four male birds average: Length, 189; wing, 84; tail, 84; culmen, 19; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 21. Iris dark brown; bill, legs, and feet black; one specimen had been eating insects.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Two eggs were collected by Whitehead near Paranas, Samar, on June 24, 1896. Steere took three eggs at Dumaguete, Negros, February 11, 1888, and four eggs in Marinduque, May 12, 1888. The two eggs from Samar are thus described: “Shape ovate. Ground-color pale pinkish white, very thickly mottled all over with light red and underlying grayish lavender blotches. Measurements 21 mm. by 15 mm.
“Nest cup-shaped, built of fine roots, and placed in a low tree about five feet [1.5 meters] from the ground in an open situation.” (Grant and Whitehead.)
Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Celestino, White).
Adult (sexes alike).—Above dull olive-green; feathers on top of head with dark centers and gray edges; ear-coverts brown with distinct whitish shaft-lines; cheeks brown, streaked with gray; chin and throat whitish; breast and sides ashy brown, slightly washed with olivaceous; abdomen buffy white; flanks brown; thighs and crissum buff; wings and tail brown, most of the feathers edged with dull olive-green; wing-coverts entirely olive-green; axillars and wing-lining light yellow. Length, about 190. A male measures: Wing, 84; tail, 76; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 19. A female, wing, 80; tail, 73; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 20.
“Four males from Calamianes average: Length, 190; wing, 86; tail, 78; culmen, 22; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 20. Three females, length, 189; wing, 83; tail, 79; culmen, 20; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 20. Both males and females from Palawan average slightly less in length; other measurements are about the same. Bill nearly black; iris, legs, feet, and nails brown.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)