Bill strong, culmen ridged and strongly curved; cutting edge curved with a notch near the tip; nostrils hidden by many soft, antrorse, frontal plumes, the anterior of which have long bristle-like shafts; rictal bristles long and stiff; wing long; first primary more than one-half the second, the latter much less than third; fourth and fifth practically equal and longest; tail long to very long, slightly to deeply forked; rectrices ten, the two outer pairs curved outward near the tips. Legs and feet stout; tarsus slightly longer than bill from nostril; bill, legs, and nails black in all the species.
Wing much longer than tail; tail slightly forked; rectrices broad, the outermost with very little if any upward curve at tip. Plumage mostly, or entirely, black, glossed with blue or green.
Ba-li-ca-si-ao, Filipino name.
Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Bartsch); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Mindoro98 (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Mearns); Polillo (McGregor); Verde (McGregor.)
Adult (sexes alike).—Black, the exposed edges of the feathers glossed with steel-green which changes to dark purple in some lights; lores velvety black; feathers of throat and chest somewhat lanceolate; feathers of sides and flanks white or light gray basally; wing-lining and axillars glossy steel-blue. A male from Lubang Island measures: Length, 267; wing, 145; tail, 126; bill from nostril, 20; depth of bill at nostril, 10; tarsus, 23. A female from Bataan Province, Luzon, measures: Wing, 141; tail, 118; bill from nostril, 21; depth of bill at nostril, 11; tarsus, 24.
“The Philippine representatives of this genus are all bold, impudent birds, and invariably appear when there is any disturbance in the woods. If picked up when wounded they bite and scratch viciously. They all feed exclusively on insects so far as our observation goes. Three male birds from Mindoro measure as follows: Wing, 138; tail, 113; culmen, 32; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 24. Three females from Luzon, wing, 131; tail, 116.5; culmen, 31; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 24. Bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Found breeding on the 25th of April.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Mindanao (Murray, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow, Celestino); Nipa (Everett); Panaon (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
Adult.—Similar to Dicrurus balicassius, but mantle, back, and rump velvety blue-black with a very slight gloss; feathers of crown scale-like and glossy; long lanceolate feathers on sides of neck dark glossy green; under parts blue-black; throat and chest spangled with glossy steel-blue. A male from Bohol measures: Wing, 134; tail, 103; depth of fork, 6; bill from nostril, 22; depth of bill at nostril, 10; tarsus, 22. A female from Basilan, wing, 135; tail, 112; bill from nostril, 21; depth of bill at nostril, 10; tarsus, 21.
In general appearance the southern drongo resembles a Chibia, but the tail is even less forked than in D. balicassius.
This species was very abundant near Isabela, Basilan. A female, taken January 15, differs from the usual specimens in having the feathers of lower breast and abdomen tipped with gray. A pensile nest of this species, found on March 12, is composed of plant fibers. Its inside diameter is 76 mm. and its inside depth is 50 mm. The three eggs are light cream, almost white, in color, decorated with faint spots of pale lilac and brighter spots of reddish brown, mostly near the larger end of the egg. The eggs measure: 28.9 by 19.3; 29.2 by 19; 29.4 by 19.5.
“Habits like those of D. balicassius. Abundant in Mindanao and Basilan. Two males from the latter island average: Length, 250; wing, 130; tail, 116; culmen, 32; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 23. Three females, length, 250; tail, 113; wing, 132; culmen, 34; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 23.6. Iris, legs, feet, and nails black; bill black, except tip of lower mandible, which is often white.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Lapoc, off Siasi (Bartsch); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester).
“The Sulu form differs from the Sula bird in smaller size (wings and tail) and somewhat smaller glossy spangles on the breast and from D. borneensis in having a larger bill and longer tail.” (Hartert.) Measurements of this species are given as follows: “Wing, 145 to 155; tail, 133 to 136; bill, 34 to 36.”
Ca-uac-uac, Ticao.
Bantayan (McGregor); Cebu (Everett, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Layard, Meyer, Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Celestino); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult (sexes alike).—Black, glossed with steel-green like D. balicassius, but lower breast, abdomen, and crissum pure white. A male from Ticao Island measures: Length, 280; wing, 142; tail, 121; bill from nostril, 23; depth of bill at nostril, 11.5; tarsus, 13. A female from the same island, wing, 137; tail, 120; bill from nostril, 21; depth of bill at nostril, 11; tarsus, 24.
“Bourns thought that he saw an individual of this species in Siquijor on one occasion, but he failed to secure it, and it was not again met with in the island. If it occurs there, it must be very rare. It is rather more shy than the other Philippine representatives of the genus.
“Four males from Cebu average: Length, 260; wing, 137; tail, 117; culmen, 33; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 25. Five females, length, 260; wing, 137; tail, 119; culmen, 33; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 25. Specimens from other localities agree closely in dimensions with the above. Bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Food insects. Breeding in June and July.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tail deeply forked, outermost pair of rectrices with the tips curved upward and more or less rotated. Plumage entirely black, glossed with green and blue; back velvety black with little or no blue gloss; breast black, spangled with glossy steel-green.
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Palawan (Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Adult (sexes similar).—Above blue-black; feathers of crown with glossy scale-like tips, upper tail-coverts, wings, and tail glossy steel-green; sides of neck with glossy green, lanceolate feathers; under parts black; feathers of lower throat and chest somewhat acute and with glossy scale-like tips; the outermost rectrices slightly upturned and twisted near the tip. A male from Palawan measures: Wing, 135; tail, 125; bill from nostril, 21; depth of bill at nostril, 10; tarsus, 23; difference in length between middle and outermost rectrices, 20. A female, wing, 132; tail, 120; bill from nostril, 21.5; depth of bill at nostril, 10; tarsus, 24.
“Habits like those of Dicrurus balicassius and D. striatus. Five males average: Length, 273; wing, 136; tail, 121; culmen, 33; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 25. Five females, length, 267; wing, 133; tail, 118; culmen, 33; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 24. Iris dark brown to black; bill, legs, feet, and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tam-bi-bi-li-gao, Cuyo.
Cuyo (McGregor).
Adult (sexes alike).—Wing, tail, and upper tail-coverts dark glossy green; all other parts dark blue-black; feathers of crown, nape, and breast tipped with glossy blue-black; some long hackles on sides of neck; back slightly metallic; outermost rectrices slightly upturned and twisted near the tip. A male (type) measures: Length, 305; wing, 152; tail, 130; bill from nostril, 23; depth of bill at nostril, 12; tarsus, 28; difference in length between the middle and outermost rectrices, 9. A female, wing, 145; tail, 124; bill from nostril, 11.5; tarsus, 27.
This species differs from C. palawanensis in being larger and in having the bill longer and deeper; spangles on chest larger.
Semirara (Worcester).
Male.—Similar to Chibia cuyensis and to C. palawanensis, but with the outermost rectrices more recurved than in either of these; wing longer than in C. cuyensis; bill longer and deeper than in C. palawanensis. The type and only specimen measures: Length, 292; wing, 150; tail, 136; bill from nostril, 22; depth of bill at nostril, 11; tarsus, 24; difference in length between the middle and outermost rectrices, 20.
Bongao (Everett); Cagayan Sulu (Guillemard, Mearns); Sibutu (Everett); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Borneo.
Similar to C. pectoralis (Sula Island), “but it may be recognized on comparison by the much smaller and more metallic spots on the throat and fore neck, which are steel-green, as also are the neck-hackles. In C. pectoralis the spangles are large, dull, and inclined to purplish in tint. This species appears to me to be a thorough Chibia. * * *.” (Sharpe.)
“The young bird from Kina Balu differs from the adult in being duller black, with fewer and less metallic chest-spots and hackles.” (Sharpe.)100
“Guillemard thought his Cagayan Sulu specimens to be of the same species with those from Sulu, though he mentions the lack of frontal plumes in the former. Dr. Sharpe has shown that the Sulu-Tawi Tawi birds must be referred to C. borneensis, and if Guillemard was right in believing the Cagayan Sulu birds to be identical with those from Sulu, C. pectoralis must be excluded from the list of Philippine birds.
“Five males from Sulu average: Length, 284; wing, 150; tail, 132; culmen, 35; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 26. Eight females, length, 273; wing, 149; tail, 123; culmen, 32.5; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 24. Iris chocolate-brown to dark red; bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Food insects.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tablas (Bourns and Worcester, Celestino).
Adult.—Very similar in colors to C. palawanensis, but distinguished from that and all other Philippine species of the genus by the extremely long and very deeply forked tail. A male in worn plumage measures: Length, 355; wing, 141; tail (chord of longest feather), 187; bill from nostril, 22.5; depth of bill at nostril, 11; tarsus, 25; difference in length between the middle and outermost rectrices, 73; distance between tips of outermost rectrices, 120.
“Average measurements of nine males: Length, 336; culmen, 34.7; wing, 137; tail, 175; tarsus, 25. Of seven females: Length, 327; culmen, 34.7; wing, 136; tail, 168; tarsus, 26. This curious species is by far the largest representative of its genus yet discovered in the Philippine Islands, and differs strikingly from both the other known species, one of which is confined to Palawan and the Calamianes Islands, while the other occurs in the Sulu Group and in Cagayan Sulu. C. menagei seems to be strictly confined to the Island of Tablas where it is not rare in the deep woods.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
“Iris very dark brown; bill, legs, feet and nails black. Food insects.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tail deeply forked and slightly shorter than wing; rectrices much narrower than in either Dicrurus or Chibia, the outermost pair slightly upturned at tips. Prevailing colors of plumage blue-gray and cinereous.
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Palawan (Steere, Everett, Lempriere, Platen, Whitehead, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Adult.-Upper parts blue-gray with a slight gloss on head and back; forehead and lores black; cheeks and ear-coverts blackish; chin and throat cinereous becoming somewhat bluer on the breast and abdomen; under tail-coverts tipped with white; wings and tail blackish brown, but the exposed edges of most of the feathers cinereous; axillars and wing-lining blue-gray. A male from Palawan measures: Length, 354; wing, 124; tail, 120; depth of fork, 26; bill from nostril, 17; tarsus, 17. A female, wing, 125; tail, 123; bill from nostril, 17; tarsus, 15.
“We adopt Whitehead’s title for this bird with some hesitation. He states that it differs from B. leucophæa in its smaller size, darker color, and in having a jet-black patch of feathers over the nostrils. He adds that the eye in B. leucophæa is brick-red, and in B. palawanensis dark gray. As regards the latter point Whitehead is certainly in error. On examining the labels of the twenty specimens collected by us in Palawan and the Calamianes Islands we find that the iris was red or brick-red in nineteen cases and reddish brown in the twentieth. The difference in color could be verified only by actual comparison for which we have not the necessary material. We add full measurements, hoping that they may be of use to some one in settling the question of the relative size of the two alleged species. Four males average: Length, 267; wing, 129; tail, 127; culmen, 26; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 18.5. Eight females, length, 251; wing, 125; tail, 126; culmen, 25; tarsus, 17.5; middle toe with claw, 19. Iris brick-red; bill, legs, feet, and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bill stout and pointed; culmen curved or nearly straight; rictal bristles minute when present; nostrils exposed, or else concealed by antrorse frontal plumes; wing either moderate or long, primaries much longer than secondaries; first primary shorter than primary-coverts; second primary nearly, or quite, as long as the third; tail square, or else the rectrices graduated; tarsus stout, distinctly scutellate in front and bilaminate behind.
The arrangement of the genera here placed in the subfamily Sturninæ is far from satisfactory. Oates, Fauna of British India, Birds (1889), 1, 509, has established the family Eulabetidæ for the reception of two of these genera, Eulabes and Calornis (=Lamprocorax), and at the same time says: “Probably Eulabes should not be associated with Calornis, but rather with the subfamily Sibiinæ of the Crateropodidæ.” It is true that Eulabes and Calornis, as well as Sarcops and Goodfellowia, present some well-marked differences from typical starlings, such as the members of Sturnia, and some rearrangement of these genera may become necessary.
Bill rather stout, much shorter than head; culmen curved near its tip; nasal membrane covered with short feathers; frontal plumes not conspicuously developed; head without bare spaces; rectrices very slightly graduated and extending little, if at all, beyond the rather short toes.
Calayan (McGregor); Luzon (McGregor, Celestino). China, Hainan, Formosa, Siam; in winter to Cochin China, southern China, Pegu, and Malacca.
Adult male (Calayan Island, September).—Above smoke-gray; forehead whitish; primaries, secondaries, primary-coverts, and alula black slightly glossed with green, secondaries narrowly edged with white; secondary-coverts, scapulars, edge of wing, axillars, and wing-lining white; rectrices black, glossed with green, all but the middle pair with broad white tips; under parts white, light smoke-gray across the chest. Bill pale stone-gray; iris white; legs and nails light brown. Length, 197; wing, 105; tail, 62; culmen from base, 20; bill from nostril, 13; tarsus, 25.
Adult female (Manila, January).—Very similar to the male from Calayan, but the white and gray areas dark smoky gray, probably due to smoke stain. Iris pale blue. Length, 190; wing, 100; tail, 57; culmen from base, 19; tarsus, 25.
Immature female (Manila, January).—Similar to the adult, but secondary-coverts glossy black with light edgings.
Male (Malabon, near Manila, March).—Similar to the male from Calayan, but fore part of head, face, chin, secondary-coverts, scapulars, upper tail-coverts, sides, flanks, under tail-coverts, and tips of rectrices ochraceous-buff. Wing, 102; tail, 60; culmen from base, 18; tarsus, 23.
The gray-backed, or Chinese, starling has been taken in the Philippines but rarely; in addition to the specimens recorded by me from Calayan and Luzon, we have two specimens that were killed near Manila.
Bi-lit′ chí-na, Calayan.
Calayan (McGregor); Luzon (Heriot, McGregor); Mindanao (Steere); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester); Negros (Steere); Palawan (Platen, Bourns & Worcester, White); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Japan; in winter to Borneo, Celebes, and the Moluccas.
Adult male (Calayan Island, October).—Forehead, crown, lores, chin, middle of throat, and area about eye white, dingy on top of head; neck, scapulars, and back black, glossed with purple; rump and upper tail-coverts white; chest, sides of neck, and ear-coverts vinous-chestnut or bay, extending as a narrow band onto each side of hind neck and forming a nearly complete collar; sides of breast, sides of body, and flanks ash-gray; middle of breast, abdomen, thighs, and crissum white; wings black, glossed with green; outer primaries edged with white; some of the secondaries edged with white toward the base; middle and lesser secondary-coverts, edge of wing, axillars, and wing-lining white; tail black, glossed with green; outermost pair of rectrices with outer webs white except near tips. Bill black, base of lower mandible white; iris brown; legs and feet dark green; nails brown. Length, 180; wing, 105; tail, 50; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 24.
Adult female (Calayan, October).—Resembles somewhat the female of Sturnia sinensis. Upper parts dingy brown with no gloss except on wings and tail; head, rump, and tail-coverts dirty whitish; under parts white, sides of breast and of abdomen faintly gray; ear-coverts and sides of neck washed with chestnut-brown; primaries and primary-coverts black, glossed with green on the outer edges; second, third, and fourth primaries edged with white or whitish on outer webs; secondaries glossy brown, the three outer ones widely edged with white except at tips; secondary-coverts brown, the median coverts with broad white tips; alula quills black, edged with white; tail glossy blackish, outermost rectrices with whitish edges. Wing, 105; tail, 48; culmen from base, 18; tarsus, 24.
Immature (Calayan, October).—Resembles the adult female, but the upper parts more earthy brown; secondary-coverts all brown, the median series with whitish tips; under parts whitish, ashy on the sides; throat and chest streaked with dull earthy brown.
The violet-backed starling, like the next preceding species, is of irregular occurrence in these Islands. A very large flock was observed on Calayan Island in October, 1903.
“A winter migrant occasionally met with in small flocks. Three males from Tawi Tawi average: Length, 180; wing, 100; tail, 52; culmen, 17.5; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 25. Two females, length, 178; wing, 103; tail, 51; culmen, 17; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 27. Iris black; legs and feet dark olive; upper mandible black, lower black at tip, gray at base.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Similar to Sturnia, but bill longer and more slender; feathers of occiput and nape lanceolate, forming a short broad crest.
Calayan (McGregor). Central and southern China.
“Adult.—General color above light ashy gray, a little darker on the hind neck, where the feathers are long and lanceolate; scapulars like the back, externally white, with a subterminal shade of black; rump and upper tail-coverts a little lighter gray, with ashy whitish margins; lesser wing-coverts blackish, edged with slaty gray; median coverts glossy purplish black; greater coverts black, externally glossy green, with purple reflections, velvety black interiorly; alula-feathers black, externally white; primary-coverts white, black near the center of the tips of the feathers; quills black, the primaries externally glossy purple, and white at the extreme base; the secondaries externally glossy green, like the greater coverts, bluish or purple toward the ends; center tail-feathers glossy green, the remainder black, externally bluish green or purple; crown of head and nape, sides of face, ear-coverts, cheeks, throat, sides of neck, and fore neck white, followed by an ashy gray breast; abdomen white; sides of body and flanks pale ashy gray tinged with brown; thighs white, ashy gray posteriorly; under tail-coverts white; under wing-coverts and axillars white; quills below dusky, ashy brown along the inner edge, the base of the quills white. ‘Bill bright red, with the tips white; feet orange; iris black, with a light circle.’ (David.) Length, 198; culmen, 25; wing, 120; tail, 61; tarsus, 29.
“All the males [in the British Museum], so marked, are of a delicate gray, and vary very slightly in the direction of a whiter or a browner head. A female collected by Mr. Reeves at Ningpo is altogether browner, rather more ashy on the rump; the gloss on the wings and tail less distinct; primary-coverts blackish brown near the base, white at the ends, with a central black streak; head whitish, ashy gray on sides of crown and hind neck; sides of face whitish, ashy on the cheeks; under surface of body as in the male, but light brown instead of gray. This specimen is apparently immature.” (Sharpe.)
A solitary female of the silky starling was obtained on Calayan Island in November, 1903. Iris dirty white; legs bright yellow; nails yellowish brown; basal one-half of bill reddish yellow; terminal half dusky. Length, 216; wing, 118; tail, 71; culmen from base, 24; bill from nostril, 16; tarsus, 29; middle toe with claw, 30.
Luzon (Mearns). Eastern Siberia, Japan, China, Formosa, Upper Burma.
“Coloration.—Forehead, crown, nape, and sides of neck black, the forehead streaked with white; lores, ear-coverts, and round the eye white, streaked with black; chin and throat dark ashy brown with paler and indistinct shaft-streaks; breast ashy, slightly paler than throat; sides of the body and thighs rufous ashy; abdomen and under tail-coverts white; back, scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts drab-brown with a broad white bar across the rump; tail drab-brown with broad white tips to all the inner webs of the feathers except the middle pair; wing-coverts and tertials bronzy brown; remainder of wing blackish, the primaries narrowly, the secondaries more broadly, margined with white on the outer webs; under wing-coverts and axillars white, a few feathers of the former partially margined with brown.
“The youngest bird I have seen has the whole plumage russet-brown, the inner webs of the tail-feathers tipped with white, the quills of the wing edged with paler brown; the ear-coverts whitish; the chin nearly pure white.
“Between this young bird and the adult above described there is every possible gradation of plumage. The nestling is probably streaked below.
“‘Iris brown surrounded by white; bill orange; the tip horny; the base of the lower mandible and the angle of the mantle brownish green; legs yellow.’ (David and Oustalet.) Length, about 229; tail, 71; wing, 132; tarsus, 32; bill from gape, 33.” (Oates.)
The gray starling is known as a member of the Philippine ornis from a single specimen collected in northern Luzon by Doctor Mearns. This specimen has the chin, throat, and crest mottled with white and there is much white on the forehead and sides of head.
Bill stout, strongly compressed except toward base; culmen strongly curved throughout; gonys straight; feathers on nasal membrane short and pile-like; feathers of head, face, and throat lanceolate; tail moderate in length; rectrices narrow and graduated, their tips rounded; plumage entirely glossy black.
Ga-lang-si-ang′, Bohol; lu-ci-ang, Cagayancillo; ma-ma-di-ang′, Cuyo; co-ra-cling, Manila.
Agutaya (McGregor); Balabac (Everett); Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Batan (McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Cagayan Sulu (Guillemard, McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Caluya (Porter); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Camiguin S. (Murray); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cuyo (McGregor); Fuga (McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Leyte (Everett); Libagao (Porter); Luzon (Meyer, Möllendorff, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Bartsch); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Bartsch); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Goodfellow); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Nipa (Everett); Palawan (Steere, Everett, Platen, Whitehead, Lempriere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, White); Panay (Steere, Bourns & Worcester); Papahag (Bartsch); Polillo (McGregor); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Semirara (Worcester); Siasi (Guillemard); Sibutu (Everett); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Siquijor (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Burbidge, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult (sexes alike).—Entirely black, strongly glossed with green, except the remiges and rectrices which have but little gloss; when held away from the light the feathers show slight purple reflections. Iris bright red; bill, legs, and nails black. Length, about 215. A male from Bohol measures: Wing, 106; tail, 74; culmen from base, 25; bill from nostril, 15; tarsus, 22. A female from Bohol, wing, 104; tail, 72; culmen from base, 20; bill from nostril, 14; tarsus, 22.
Young.—Above blackish, slightly glossed with green; sides of head and of neck and under parts white or yellowish, streaked with blackish brown, the streaks narrowest on throat, widest on sides of breast and on flanks.
“Five males average: Length, 224; wing, 106; tail, 75; culmen, 22; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 24. Four females, length, 212; wing, 102; tail, 69; culmen, 20; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 24.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Three eggs of the Panay glossy starling collected by Whitehead in Isabela Province, Luzon, are described as follows: “Shape sharp ovate. Ground-color beautiful sea-green, blotched and spotted toward the large end with pale reddish lilac under-markings and sienna over-markings. Measurements, 27 mm. by 19 mm.” (Grant and Whitehead.)
Kohl-leé-po, Bagobos of Todaya.
Mindanao (Mearns, Goodfellow).
Female (type).—“Similar to L. panayensis, but much smaller, and otherwise differing as follows: The feathers of the nape and lower throat are more rigid and, perhaps, relatively longer; viewed in certain lights the plumage is less golden green, the gloss being purplish blue; the wings and tail are dull, purplish black, without metallic gloss; and the throat is more decidedly glossed with violet-purple. Length of skin, 157; wing, 95; tail, 59; culmen, 13.5; bill from nostril, 10; depth of bill at nostrils, 6; tarsus, 19.” (Mearns.) “Iris ruby-red; bill and feet black.” (Goodfellow.)
“This small species of glossy starling was abundant in the high forest above the Bagobo village of Todaya, where small flocks flew with great speed above the treetops, only alighting on the highest dry branches, where they were with difficulty reached by shot.” (Mearns.)
Frontal and nasal feathers long, antrorse or erect, and concealing the nostrils; feathers of crown, occiput, and ear-coverts lanceolate; tail short and rounded; plumage nearly all black or slate-gray; tips of primary-coverts and a large section of primaries pure white, forming a conspicuous wing-bar.
CRESTED MYNA.101
Mar-tí-nez, Manila.
Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Celestino, Bartsch). Central and southern China.
Adult (sexes similar).—General color black, slightly ashy on the breast; crown and back faintly glossed with green and purple; under tail-coverts and rectrices tipped with white; a wide basal band of white across the primaries. Male from Manila: Iris yellow-ocher; bill pale green, brown at base; legs and feet dark yellow; nails horn-color. Length, 270; wing, 134; tail, 83; culmen from base, 25; bill from nostril, 17; tarsus, 39. Female from Manila: Iris light orange with a narrow outer yellow ring; bill greenish white; legs dull yellow; nails horn-gray. Length, 250; wing, 130; tail, 81; culmen from base, 25; bill from nostril, 16; tarsus, 38.
“Young.—Brown instead of black, with no crest on the head, only the frontal plumes being close-set. ‘Bill yellowish horn-color; roof of mouth, inside of bill, and tip of tongue yellow, the rest flesh-color with a bluish-black tinge; legs light brownish yellow on the under parts, sole, and joints of scales, the rest purplish brown, darker on the claws; iris slight greenish yellow.’ (R. Swinhoe.)” (Sharpe.)
“Very abundant about the city of Manila. Quite common about the Laguna de Bay.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bill stout and as long as head; culmen gently curved; base of upper mandible covered with short feathers as far as the nostrils, but the latter exposed; rictal bristles short; sides and top of head naked, except a narrow median line; tail a little shorter than wing; rectrices graduated; upper parts largely silvery gray; wings, tail, and under parts black.
Co-ling, Mindoro; i-ling, Ticao; sa-ling, Masbate; co-le-to, Manila.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp.); Libagao (Porter); Lubang (McGregor); northern Luzon (Cuming, Kittlitz, Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor); Maestre de Campo (McGregor & Worcester); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, Everett, McGregor); Papahag (Bartsch); Semirara (McGregor & Worcester); Sibay (McGregor & Worcester); Sibutu (Low, Everett); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Verde (McGregor).
Adult (sexes alike).—Forehead, lores, face, vertical line, and a narrow band on occiput black; wings and tail black; sides of neck, mantle, back, rump, and tail-coverts silvery gray; under parts black; a patch on each side of chest pure white; flanks silvery white; in some specimens the throat is marked with fine white lines. Iris pinkish; bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Length, 265 to 290. A male from Batan Province, Luzon, measures: Wing, 130; tail, 117; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 20; tarsus, 30. A female from Mindoro measures: Wing, 132; tail, 119; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 20; tarsus, 31.
“Called by the natives ‘sa-ling’. Common where it occurs at all. Feeds entirely on fruits, and is often found in fruit trees in company with Dicæidæ, Loriculi, and other fruit-eating birds. It nests in dead trees.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (Everett, McGregor); Bantayan (McGregor); Banton (Celestino); Bohol (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp., Bartsch); southern Luzon (Whitehead, Bartsch); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Goodfellow, Celestino); Negros (Meyer, Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Siquijor (Celestino); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult.—Differs from Sarcops calvus only in having the back black forming a distinct dark area between the silvery gray of the hind neck in front and of the rump and tail-coverts behind.
Until recently Sarcops has been considered to be a monotypic genus. It is true that in 1877 Sharpe described Sarcops lowii from Sibutu, but as the type of this species remains unique we may consider its status to be at least doubtful. In 1895 Grant called attention to some differences between specimens of bald starlings collected in localities east of the meridian 122 and those from localities west of that line. Quoting in part from Grant: “we find that east of longitude 122 degrees, or thereabout, all the Philippine examples of S. calvus have the mantle and upper back brownish black; while west of this line all have the upper parts uniform silvery gray; intermediate forms being met with only in localities situated along the line where the two forms intergrade.”
In 1906 Grant designated the eastern race as Sarcops melanonotus which is here recognized. The difference between the two races, while evident enough in extreme examples, is not always well marked. As Grant states, specimens taken near the meridian 122 are usually intermediate in the color of the mantle and are not satisfactorily referable to either race. These intermediate birds occur in Basilan, Bohol, Marinduque, Luzon, Tablas, Bohol, and Cebu. In Luzon and Bohol, at least, both varieties and intermediate specimens have been found.
Under these conditions it will be understood that the distribution of the two races of Sarcops, as indicated by islands, is only tentative, while the assignment of the various collectors to their proper places is more or less a matter of guesswork.
Bill shorter than head; nostrils overhung by antrorse frontal plumes; bare space around each eye much smaller than in Sarcops; a long crest of decomposed feathers springing from the crown; tail much longer than wing; rectrices graduated; plumage black, glossed with steel-green; a large white patch on rump.
Tu-ca-ling′, Bagobo of Mount Apo.
Mindanao (Goodfellow, Mearns).
Adult (sexes alike).—Black, glossed with dark green; wings and tail blackish brown with little or no gloss; wing-lining and a large patch on lower back and rump white. “Iris dark brown, bare skin round eye yellow; bill yellow, shading into greenish yellow at the base; toes dirty olive or blackish olive; legs olive-yellow.” (Goodfellow.) Length, about 300 mm. A male measures: Wing, 116; tail, 156; culmen from base, 22; tarsus, 25; crest, 31; difference between longest and shortest rectrices, 90. A female, wing, 114; tail, 162; culmen from base, 25; tarsus, 30; crest, 25; difference between longest and shortest rectrices, 92.
This peculiar starling is confined to the highlands of Mindanao.
Bill shorter than head and very stout; culmen strongly curved; nasal feathers antrorse, but short and not concealing the nostrils; feathers on head very short, those of lores and a broad band of feathers on each side of crown and occiput pile-like; a bare space below each eye; a bare space behind each eye ending in a fleshy flap, or wattle, on nape; tail square, less than one-half the wing and not extending beyond the very stout legs and feet; plumage black, glossed with blue and purple; a white bar on the wing.
PALAWAN WATTLED MYNA.103
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Everett, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Adult (sexes alike).—Black, most of the plumage with a slight green gloss, but the gloss slightly bluish on throat, breast, and hind-neck, purplish on mantle; second to seventh primaries with a wide white band, but on the second confined to the inner web and sometimes indicated by a small white spot on the outer web of the eighth. A male from Palawan measures: Wing, 162; tail, 75; culmen from base, 30; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 36. A female from the same locality, wing, 168; tail, 74; culmen from base, 32; bill from nostril, 21; tarsus, 36.
“This wattled myna is common in Palawan and extremely abundant in the Calamianes Islands. It is a very noisy bird, and some of its cries are astonishingly human. Iris very dark brown; legs and feet bright yellow; nails yellow at base, white at tip; bill orange-red, yellow at tip; bare flesh of head bright yellow. Five males from the Calamianes average: Length, 281; wing, 106; tail, 77; tarsus, 34; middle toe with claw, 36. Four females from the same locality, length, 273; tail, 73; culmen, 30; tarsus, 33; middle toe with claw, 33.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)