1 It is a matter of difficulty to distinguish between the soft short tail-feathers and the long, overhanging coverts; in this species, therefore, it is more convenient to measure from base of tail to tip of longest covert. ↑
2 The status of Gallus stramineicollis, described from a specimen collected in Sulu by Burbidge, is somewhat doubtful; Grant considers it a domestic bird. The original description follows:
“General color above black, shot with green and purple; wing-coverts like the back, the innermost and the scapulars with a slight subterminal shine of coppery brown; primary-coverts and primaries black, the secondaries externally green; feathers of the lower back and rump straw-yellow, with darker longitudinal centers of black or green; upper tail-coverts and tail glossy oil-green; crown of head and nape black; hind-neck and neck-hackles, as well as sides of neck, straw-yellow, deeper on the hind-neck, with green longitudinal centers to the feathers; remainder of under surface of body black with a green gloss; comb short and rounded; sides of face and entire throat bare. Total length 34.5 inches [876 mm.], culmen 1.1 [28], wing 9.0 [229], tail 17.5 [445], tarsus 3.4 [86].” ↑
3 Birds from some of these localities may be M. langhornei. ↑
4 It is possible that all the records of Ptilocolpa for Mindanao should be referred to P. mindanensis. ↑
5 Whitehead’s diagnosis is as follows: “Similis P. griseipectori (Bp.), sed plaga præpectorali nigra, nec cinerea, facile distinguenda. Long. tot. 13.0 poll., alæ 8.3, caudæ 4.8, tarsi 0.85.” ↑
6 The order Colymbiformes as used here is equivalent to order VIII Podicipedidiformes of Sharpe’s Hand-List and not order IX Colymbiformes of that work. Tachybaptus Reichenbach is to be used for the genus or subgenus Podiceps Latham. Cf. Stone, Auk (1907), 24, 190; Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. (1907), 24, 24. ↑
7 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke informs me that he has received a specimen of the Philippine grebe from Panay. ↑
8 As the Bureau of Science collection contains very few specimens belonging to the order Lariformes and as these are winter specimens only, the greater part of the specific descriptions of Philippine gulls and terns are copied from Saunders’s excellent work, in volume 25 of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum. ↑
9 Cf. Bureau, Bull. Soc. Sci. Nat. Ouest France (1904), 14, 227–256. ↑
10 While I have examined specimens of nearly all the species in this order which are known to occur in the Philippine Islands the material available to me is unsatisfactory as a basis for specific descriptions. This is due to the fact that most of the species under consideration are migrants and can be taken in the Philippines in non-breeding plumage only. Rather than present descriptions based upon inadequate material I have included here numerous quotations from Sharpe’s monograph of the Limicolæ (Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, volume 24) and from other standard works. ↑
11 The Ticao specimen was listed as Numenius arquata, McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List, p. 24; it is really a specimen of N. variegatus. ↑
12 “Ocrophus” is said to be a misprint. ↑
13 Cf. Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. (1907), 24, 20. ↑
14 See also footnote under Ixobrychus cinnamomeus, p. 179. ↑
15 Cf. Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. (1907), 24, 36. ↑
16 Stejneger, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Wash. (1887), 10, 289, places this species in his subgenus Nannocnus and gives the following key:
The characters of Nannocnus seem to be, as stated by Stejneger, of no more than subgeneric value. ↑
17 All of the species of ducks here enumerated, except Marila marila, are represented in the Bureau of Science collection by specimens taken in the Philippine Islands, but with the exception of the abundant Dendrocygna arcuata these are adults only, in winter plumage. I have constructed keys and diagnoses from this material but for detailed descriptions I have depended almost entirely upon Salvadori’s monograph in volume 27 of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum. ↑
18 The white-faced tree duck, Dendrocygna viduata (Linnæus), has been recorded as a Philippine species; I believe it should be omitted from our list. ↑
19 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke informs us that he has received a specimen of this duck from Negros. ↑
20 The Phæthontidæ have the nostrils open and the interramal space feathered. No member of this family has been reported from the Philippine Islands. ↑
21 Through the interest of Mr. William Edmonds, teacher in the Batanes, a specimen of the tic-wee buzzard from Batan has been sent to the Bureau of Science. We are under obligations to Mr. Otto Sheerer for two live specimens of this species which were caught in Batan. Still another tic-wee buzzard was captured on board the U. S. S. Albatross in the vicinity of Camiguin Island, north of Luzon. ↑
22 The Sibuyan specimen was recorded as Falco peregrinus in Publ. Govt. Labs. (1905), 25, 11. ↑
23 Sharpe’s diagnosis is as follows: “F. similis F. melanogeni, sed nigricantior, subtus ubique cinereo adumbratus, et subalaribus axillaribusque nigris, lineis parvulis albis transfasciatis. Long. tot. 15.5 poll., alæ 11.6, caudæ 5.5, tarsi 1.9.” ↑
24 “The length of the bill varies considerably, some specimens, measured from the anterior margin of the cere, being only 30, others 34.” ↑
25 Sharpe’s diagnosis and remarks on this species are as follows: “S. similis S. umbratili, sed multo minor et omnino saturate brunnea, modo Scopino vermiculata et notata, sed regione auriculari rufo-brunnea concolore, et fasciis frontalibus et cervicalibus pallidis obsoletis.
“The above diagnosis well expresses the relations of this dark-colored Scops owl, which is more dingy in color than any species I know.” ↑
26 Sharpe’s diagnosis is as follows: “S. similis S. mantananensis sed alis extus vix albo notatis, et remigibus intus vix fasciatis distinguenda. Long. tot. 8.0 poll., alæ 6.0.” ↑
27 “This bird is described as being most probably the same as the typical Sumatran N. scutulata (Raffl.).” ↑
28 Sharpe’s diagnosis of this species follows: “Similis N. reyi, sed maculis pallidis primariorum paucis fulvescentibus, minime albo quadratim notatis, et abdomine, hypochondriis, et tibiis ochrascentifulvis, nec albis brunneo maculatis distinguenda. Long. tot. 9.5 poll., alæ 7.7.” ↑
29 “Quant a la Chouette qui provient du meme [Sulu] archipel, on peut la distinguer immédiatement de l’espèce commune des Philippines (Ninox philippensis) par sa taille plus forte (o m. 29), par ses ailes beaucoup plus longues et depassant même l’extrémité de la quene, et enfin par son plumage roux, rayé transversalement de brun sur la tete et sur les épaules. Par ce dernier caractère, la chouette des îles Sooloo, que pourra être appelée Ninox Reyi, ressemble en peu au Glaucidium ou Athene cuculoides de l’Indo-Chine, espèce dont les ailes sont, du reste, beaucoup moins developpées.” (Oustalet.) ↑
30 The descriptions given above are from a copy of the original, the essential part of which follows:
“Ich beschreibe ein altes vollausgafärbtes Weibchen dieser Eule wie folgt: Oberher rötlichbraun, schwach ins Olive spielend. Oberkopf, Kopfseiten, Hinterhals, Halsseiten und Mantel heller fahlrötlich schmal gebändert; auf Unterrücken und Bürzel wird diese Bindenzeichnung undeutlich, so dass diese Teile nahezu einfärbig erscheinen. Kinn hell. Kehlfedern hellfahl mit dunklen Schaflstrichen. Brust und Bauch auf lebhaft rotbraunem Grunde schmal schwärzlich gebändert. Flügelbug weiss. Skapularen und grosse Flügeldeckfedern mit einigen grösseren mattweissen Flecken auf der Aussenfahne. Schwingen erster Ordnung: Innenfahne einfärbig schwärzlich, Aussenfahne mit breiteren dunkelbraunen und schmaleren rötlichfahlen Bindenflecken. Auf den Tertiärschwingen erscheinen sehr undeutlich breite, dunklere Binden und längs des Randes der Aussenfahne hellfahle Fleckenspuren. Schwanzfedern mit gleichbreiten bräunlichen und dunkleren Binden. Untere Schwanzdecken hellfahl. Innere Flügeldecken hellbraunrötlich mit dunklerer Fleckung. Beine hellgelblich. Iris gelb. Ganze Länge circa 250 mm, Flügel 169 mm, Schwanz 80 mm.
“Ein zweites Exemplar gez. ♂ unterscheidet sich nur dadurch, dass die Binden des Unterbauchs und der Hosen auf hellerem Grunde stehen. Auch auf Brust und Epigastrium ist die rotbraune Grundfarbe etwas heller. Flügel 168 mm, Schwanz 80 mm.
“Ein drittes Exemplar gez. ♀. Das Braunrot des Abdomen sehr feurig mit unregelmässiger und weniger deutlicher Bindenzeichnung. Flügel 168 mm, Schwanz 78 mm.
“Ein viertes Exemplar. Nestjunges Weibchen. Oberher olivenbräunlich. Nur auf dem Scheitel Bindenzeichnung. Unterher rotbräunlich mit Spuren von Binden auf der Brust. Die Federn des Bauches zeigen dunkle Schaftstriche. Untere Schwanzdecken hellfuchsrötlich. Die dunklen Flecken auf den Aussenfahnen der grösseren Schwingen stehen auf hellfahlem Grunde.
“Vergleicht man die vorstehende Beschreibung von Ninox Plateni Blas. mit den Beschreibungen von Ninox spilonotus und Ninox mindorensis so ist das Ergebniss ein unsicheres, wenig befriedigendes. Der Umstand, dass in der Beschreibung von Ninox spilonotus nur von Flecken und an keiner Stelle von Bindenzeichnung die Rede ist, sowie, dass die Innenfahnen der grösseren Schwingen als ‘spotted and barred with light rufous brown’ beschrieben werden, genügt vollkommen, um jeden Gedanken an Gleichartigkeit von N. Plateni und N. spilonotus auszuschliessen.” ↑
32 The validity of the following species is doubtful:
Prioniturus suluensis W. Blasius; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 29.
Adult.—“Very much like P. discurus, from which it differs in being larger and in the greater extension of the blue color on the crown, where it begins from the anterior edge of the forehead and extends to the occiput; also lores bluish green; on the nape and upper part of the back there is a very distinct olive patch, of the same color as the under parts. Length, 343; wing, 163; central tail-feathers, 165; lateral tail-feathers, 76; bill, 23; tarsus, 17.” (Salvadori.)
“The Sulu bird (P. suluensis Blasius) has been separated on account of its larger size and the blue on the crown being more extended, beginning at the anterior edge of the forehead and extending to the occiput. Its larger size (wing 165 mm.) one can appreciate, but the supposed difference in the blue on the crown and other minor characters mentioned are equally found in birds from Basilan, Mindanao, etc., so that P. suluensis can only be considered a rather larger insular race of P. discurus, which it absolutely resembles in plumage.” Grant, Ibis (1895), 263.
The blue on the crown and forehead seems to be a variable quantity in Prioniturus discurus and its allies and the status of suluensis and waterstradti can only be determined when good series from various localities are studied. ↑
33 In many specimens otherwise in adult plumage, the cheeks are green, but this seems to be invaded by extension of blue from the crown as the birds become older. ↑
34 The key is that of the Catalogue of Birds with slight changes. ↑
35 The status of the following is doubtful:
Loriculus sp. Salvadori.
Mindanao (Cuming).
“It is about the size of L. siquijorensis; in coloring it comes near the female of L. apicalis, but has the red of the crown not reaching the occiput; the tail above shows much blue towards the tip of the lateral feathers. I add the description of the specimen, which is not in very good condition: Green; forehead and vertex red; nape with a slight tinge of orange; cheeks and throat blue; rump and upper tail-coverts red; tail green above, the lateral feathers blue towards the tip; tail underneath deep blue; bill orange. Length, 165; wing, 98; tail, 44.” (Salvadori.) ↑
36 The description of the male, as given by Dr. Finsch, is as follows:
“Altes Männchen. Oberseite des Kopfes, Hals und alle unteren Theile (einschliesslich der unteren Schwanzdecken) rostgelblichweiss; Wangen und Ohrgegend, von letzterer in einem breiteren Bande um die nackte Kehle sich herumziehend, braunschwarz; alle oberen Theile (einschliesslich der oberen Schwanz- und unteren Flugeldecken) dunkelbraun, mit schwach grünlichem Metallschimmer, der auf den dunkleren Schwingen deutlicher hervortritt (keine hellen Schwingensäume); Schwanzfedern schwarzbraun mit grünlichem Metallschimmer, die zwei mittelsten Federn (etwas unterhalb der Mitte) mit einer (25 mm.) breiten rostfarbenen Querbinde, die auf der folgenden nur halb so breit ist, auf der nächstfolgenden nur an der Innenfahne kleine hellrostfarbene Querflecke, die keine eigentliche Binde bilden; die zwei äussersten Schwanzfedern jederseits einfarbig braunschwarz; Schnabel schwarz, etwas rothbraun durchscheinend, der Aufsatz in ein röthliches Hornbraun übergehend, das gegen die Basis zu viel heller und etwas durchscheinend ist; auf der Basishälfte des Oberschnabels machen sich vier schwach vertiefte Furchen bemerkbar, die von der Mitte bis zum Schneidenrande herablaufen und sich als senkrechte gelbliche Streifen abheben; Unterschnabel mit drei schief nach vorn laufenden Längsrillen, von denen die basale röthlichbraun gefärbt ist; der nackte Augenkreis schmutzig fleischröthlich; die nackte Basis des Unterschnabels, wie die Nacktheit an Kinn und Kehle, schmutzig gelblich; Fusse hornschwarz.
“(Im Leben: ‘Iris braunroth, Schnabel braunroth mit gelben Streifen an der Wurzel, Füsse dunkelgrau beinahe schwarz’; Eingeborenen-Name ‘Talisi’: van der Valk).” ↑
37 Cf. Oberholser, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington (1906), 19, 68. ↑
38 The name Salangana Saint-Hilaire, 1837, proposed by Richmond to replace Collocalia, proves to have been used in a vernacular sense and therefore is not available. Cf. Oberholser, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1906), 58, 178. ↑
39 The late Mr. H. M. Ickis, geologist, Bureau of Science, found this species breeding in the Island of Polillo and collected nests and eggs as well as specimens of the bird. ↑
40 Some authors prefer Apus Scopoli, 1777, for this genus; Dr. Sharpe uses Cypselus Illiger, 1811. Cf. Hartert, Das Tierreich (1897), 1, 83; Sharpe, Hand-List, (1900), 2, (introduction); Allen, Auk (1901), 18, 121. ↑
41 The young in several genera are more or less barred and can not be determined by this key; the females in the genus Eudynamys have the entire plumage barred and spotted. ↑
42 The key is modified from that given by Grant, Ibis (1896), 471. ↑
43 In Sharpe’s Hand-List, Calayan is given as one of the localities for this species, a slip for Catanduanes; no woodpecker is known from Calayan. ↑
44 Cf. references to Clarke under Thriponax hargitti. ↑
45 Cf. Grant, Ibis (1896), 473, under Thriponax mindorensis. ↑
46 Apart from the characters presented by the tarsal envelope, this division into suborders is fully justified by internal structures, but as these can not be examined in skins they are omitted above.
Key to the suborders of Passeriformes based upon internal characters.
47 The pittas are known to some authors as “ant thrushes” but the latter name belongs properly to certain members of the South American family Formicariidæ. The name “ground thrush” appears to have greater validity as the English name for the Pittidæ, but the use of the name “thrush” in connection with this family is misleading and unnecessary. ↑
48 See also the remarks on Pitta propinqua under the next preceding species. ↑
49 Cf. Pitta rothschildi, page 420. ↑
50 Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d. ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 331. ↑
51 The validity of this species appears to me very doubtful; the original description follows:
“Völlig abweichend aber präsentiert sich ein anscheinend männliches stück aus Marinduque (Philippinen), dessen Unterseite derartig stark mit Blau übertönt erscheint, dass von der grünen Farbe kaum noch eine Spur sichtbar bleibt. Das Weiss der Flügels in den Schwingen erscheint bei diesem interessanten Vogel, der zudem stärker ist wie die beiden anderen Philippiner, in ganz exzessivem Masse entwiekelt; der Brustfleck dagegen ist relativ klein. Das Kolorit des Steissgefieders ist in prächtiges Karsisinrot (nicht Zinnoberrot).” (Parrot.) ↑
52 Some species of the swallow family are known to European authors as sand martins, while other species are called house martins, but as, in the United States, the name martin is closely associated with the genus Progne, I prefer to retain the name swallow for all the species of Hirundinidæ known from the Philippine Islands. ↑
53 Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 204, recognizes H. fuliginosa as distinct from H. sibirica and gives Palawan as one of its localities. A flycatcher collected by Platen in Palawan is recorded by Blasius as H. sibirica and I have met with no reference to H. fuliginosa from that Island except as given by Sharpe. ↑
54 The islands of Bongao and Sulu are given here on the authority of Sharpe’s Hand-List. ↑
55 Sharpe, Hand-List, gives the locality “Palawan (winter)” for this flycatcher; I have not found that it is recorded from Palawan. ↑
56 See also Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 107. ↑
57 This key is slightly modified from the one given by Grant, Ibis (1896), 542. ↑
58 Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 276, assigns the species C. nigrorum and C. olivacea to Abrornis. Oates says: “Abrornis resembles Cryptolopha in everything except the tail, which has ten feathers instead of twelve.” As the species mentioned above have twelve rectrices I have put them in Cryptolopha. ↑
59 Cf. footnote under Cryptolopha olivacea, p. 474. ↑
60 Whitehead’s diagnosis is as follows: “Similis C. montis sed rostro crassiore et uropygio sulphureo destinguenda.” ↑
61 There is some doubt as to the species of Artamides found in Libagao, but it is in all probability A. mindorensis. ↑
62 Sharpe’s diagnosis reads:
“Mas a mari E. morionis ex insula Celebensi vix diversus. Foem. tamen gastraeo toto cinereo concolore facile distinguenda.” Sharpe should have compared the male with E. mindanense as well as with E. morio. ↑
63 This key can be used with adult birds only. ↑
64 No specimen of L. melanoleuca was collected on Semirara but “a bird, probably of this species, was seen.” ↑
65 Cf. Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 309. I find no record of this Irena having been taken in Balabac. ↑
66 Mearns gives the following characters for this subspecies: “Similar to the Luzon guava bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier goiavier), but smaller, with relatively shorter tail, broader supraorbital white stripes, and a paler auricular patch.” The comparative measurements given by Mearns are not convincing and I am not prepared to admit the validity of this subspecies. ↑
67 Leonardina (p. 537) probably belongs near Mixornis and Macronous; I have not seen it. ↑
68 The original description of Mixornis (=Zosterornis) plateni follows:
“Mixornis plateni, bedeutend kleiner als M. capitalis, mit welcher Form die Art, besonders von der Oberseite gesehen, eine gewisse Aehnlichkeit in der Färbung besitzt.
“Oberseite olivenbraun, Bürzel und Schwanzdeckfedern mehr rostfarben, am Vorderrücken weisse Schaftstriche. Ganzer Kopf, oben und an den Seiten, Nacken und Brust rothbraun mit feinen weissen Schaftstrichen. Kinn und Kehle mehr schwärzlich mit breiteren weissen Schaftflecken. Schwanzfedern einfarbig braun, an der Aussenfahne olivenfarben verwaschen. Ebenso die schwanz federn oberseits und die oberen Flügeldeckfedern. Untere Flügeldeckfedern und Achselfedern weisslich. Masse: ♀ Long. tot. 12 cm. Ala 5.5 cm. Caud. 4.7 cm. Culmen 1.0 cm. Tarsus 1.5 cm. Type: Museum Brunsvicense.” ↑
69 The original description of Macronous kettlewelli follows: “Brunneus; dorsi plumis filiformibus, elongatis, versus basin nigricantibus; rachide, et partibus plumæ rachidi adjacentibus, albidis; alis fulvescenti-brunneis, exterius pallidioribus; supracaudalibus caudaque pallide castaneis; pileo dorso concolori, rachidibus plumarum albidis; fronte nigricante, magis distincte striata; superciliis, loris et regione parotica nigricantibus, albo lineatis; genis et corpore toto subtus pallide cervinis; hypochondriis brunnescentibus; gula summa et abdomine medio albicantibus; gutture et corporis lateribus vix albido lineatis; subalaribus pectori concoloribus; iride smaragdinea; rostro et pedibus brunneis. Long. tot. circa 0.140 m; al. 0.063 m; caud. 0.070 m; rostr. 0.015 m; tars. 0.024 m.” (Guillemard.) ↑
70 For detailed characters of the Turdidæ the reader is referred to Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1881), 5, 2; and to Birds of North and Middle America, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. Washington (1907), 50, pt. 4, 1 to 4. ↑
71 This key to the Philippine species of Planesticus is taken from a paper by Mearns, Phil. Journ. Sci. (1907), 2, sec. A, 359. ↑
72 Birds of the genus Planesticus are called “blackbirds” in Europe and “robins” in the United States; as both of these names are in common use for birds of entirely different genera I have employed the name “black thrush” for the Philippine species of Planesticus. ↑
73 I use Forster’s name for this rock thrush on the recommendation of Dr. C. W. Richmond. ↑
74 Cf. Grant, Ibis (1896), 117. ↑
75 I follow Sharpe in alloting Lanius validirostris and L. nasutus to Cephalophoneus. The type of this genus is said to be Lanius bucephalus, a species resembling Lanius validirostris in length of tail and turgidity of bill. These two species appear to be congeneric. In L. nasutus, however, the tail is much longer; the rectrices are more strongly graduated and relatively narrower. Possibly another genus should be recognized for nasutus and suluensis. ↑
76 Philippine specimens of this genus have usually been referred to Lanius (Otomela) lucionensis, but both O. cristata and O. superciliosa are credited to the Philippines in Sharpe’s Hand-List and for this reason they are included here. Having no specimens of undoubted identity I am unable to determine many of the specimens of shrikes in the Bureau of Science collection. Of the last two species mentioned I give the distribution and short descriptions on the authority of Dresser.
The following paragraphs may be of use in distinguishing the three species.
“L. superciliosus Latham * * * has the entire upper surface very bright uniform rufous, a very broad frontal band, a very broad superciliary stripe, and the throat pure white; the inner webs of the basal parts of the primaries white underneath, which shows through on the upper surface of the quills at their insertion, almost forming a white, yet concealed alar bar; shoulder-edge and under shoulder-coverts pure white.
“L. cristatus Linnæus has the head, nape, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail rufous, but less bright and browner than in L. superciliosus. The back is colored with the same tint, but paler or less rufous. The chin and upper part of the throat are white; but the tawny hue of the breast extends higher up than in either L. superciliosus or in L. lucionensis; and all the throat is usually washed with tawny.
“The white frontal band is narrow and ill-defined; and the white supercilium is much less prominent than in L. superciliosus. The quills at their insertions show indications, although slight, of a rudimentary alar bar. The shoulder-edge and under shoulder-coverts are tawny. The female is colored as the male, but has the subocular stripe brown and not black and the sides of the breast and flanks more or less striated and freckled with faint brown marks.
“L. lucionensis Linnæus has the forehead and crown delicate pale pearl-gray, no pure white whatever on the forehead. A narrow white supercilium commences above the eye, becoming somewhat broader behind, and shading off into the gray of the head. The occiput, nape, and back are ashy liver-brown. The rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail are washed with rufous, most marked on the upper tail-coverts; the chin and throat pure white, as in L. superciliosus; shoulder-edge and under shoulder-coverts pure white; indications of a concealed white alar bar, as in L. cristatus; and the female has the sexual distinguishing characters of that species. The almost entire absence of rufous in the plumage of the adult Philippine species suffices to distinguish it at a glance from L. cristatus and L. superciliosus.” Walden, Trans. Zool. Soc. (1875), 9, 171, 172. ↑
77 “Adult male.—Similar to typical Hyloterpe apoensis, but paler throughout, with crown brownish instead of grayish; under parts canary-yellow instead of lemon-yellow; slightly smaller. Wing, 78; tail, 67; culmen, 14; bill from nostril, 9.2; tarsus, 17.5. ‘Iris brown. Bill black.’
“Adult female * * *.—Paler and dingier than the male; under parts pale canary-yellow from throat backward. Wing, 71; tail, 61; tarsus, 17.5.
“Remarks.—Specimens in the U. S. National Museum, collected on the Island of Siquijor, Philippine Islands, by F. S. Bourns and D. C. Worcester, are exactly like Basilan specimens taken in February, 1888, and must be included as belonging to this species. Lowland birds from Mindanao Island connect the forms apoensis and basilanica.” (Mearns.)
Specimens from Siquijor, although larger than true H. apoensis, seem to be nearly like this species in color. ↑
78 The titmouse of Sulu and Tawi Tawi is probably not true Parus elegans. ↑
79 The construction of a key to the species of silvereyes is rendered very difficult by the nature of the characters upon which a number of the species are based. Some of the species can be determined only by the actual comparison of specimens in fresh plumage. Immediately following the molt, the colors are bright and yellowish, but after a few months the feathers become much abraded and the colors become duller, dingier and greener. ↑
80 The identity of Porter’s Caluya specimen with Zosterops aureiloris is somewhat doubtful. ↑
81 Gould’s type came from “Manila,” its collector is unknown and Dicæum retrocinctum has not been found in Luzon by any recent collector. It seems probable that the type was not collected in Luzon. ↑
82 Steere did not record this species from Marinduque, but in Bourns and Worcester’s MS. notes I find the remark: “Doubtless also Marinduque.” Cf. also Worcester and Bourns, Distribution List, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Washington (1898), 20, 560, no. 361. ↑
83 Sharpe’s original diagnosis of Dicæum sibutuense is as follows: “D. simile, D. trigonostigmati, sed gutture saturate schistaceo, macula dorsale aurantiaca distinguendum. Long. tot. 3.2 poll., culm. 0.45, alæ 2.0, caudæ 0.85, tarsi 0.5.” ↑
84 The original diagnosis and description of Dicæum flaviventer, from which the above description is taken, are as follows:
“Dicæum D. rubriventri Less. similis, sed parte media pectoris abdominisque cadmiumino-flava, capite supra dorsoque virescentibus et uropygio obscure ardesiaco distinguendum.
“Long. al. 55, caud. 30, tars. 12, culm. 10.5 mm. (♂).
“Hab. Insula Philippinarum Cebú.
“Kopf, Oberrücken und Flügeldecken grünlich schwarz mit etwas Glanz. Schwingen schwärzlichbraunn, die Secundaren mit grünlich glänzenden Rändern auf der Aussenfahne. Unterrücken und schwanzdecken, dunkel schieferfarbig. Schwanz schwarz. Kehle vorn und an den Seiten weiss, untere Kehle und Brust, sowie die Seiten des Unterkörpers hell aschgrau, in der Mitte desselben ein schöner cadmiumgelber, bis 6 mm breiter Streif (Ridgway: cadmium-yellow Pl. VI, 6), nach dem After zu in Weiss übergehend; untere Schwanzdecken, Axillaren und untere Flügeldecken weiss, die äusseren mit einem schwärzlichen Fleck in der Mitte. Hosen aussen weiss, hinten terminal schwärzlich. Füsse braun. Schnabel schwarz, kräftig.” ↑
85 Celestino’s specimens were recorded by mistake as Dicæum papuense, Phil. Jour. Sci. (1906), 1, 907. ↑
86 I have not seen the females of C. guimarasensis and C. flagrans. ↑
87 “Characters.—Most closely resembling Cyrtostomus jugularis jugularis of Luzon, but slightly larger, with the upper parts olive-green instead of brownish olive-gray; under parts nearly uniform lemon-yellow instead of canary-yellow.” (Mearns.) ↑
88 “Characters.—Smaller than Cyrtostomus jugularis aurora, C. jugularis jugularis, or C. jugularis dinagatensis, old males differing from all three in the metallic reflections on the middle of the dark metallic plastron, which are bluish and violet instead of green-blue; under parts shading very gradually from rich orange, adjoining the dark metallic plastron, to clear yellow on the crissum and under tail-coverts; back a more golden olive-green than in the other Philippine forms; forehead, lores, and superciliary stripe solid metallic violet purple.” (Mearns.) ↑
89 Hartert’s remarks on Anthreptes malaccensis wiglesworthi are as follows: “Kopfseiten fast so roth wie bei rhodolaema, Unterseite wie bei chlorigaster (siehe oben). (Meinem zu früh verstorbenen ornithologischen Freunde Wiglesworth gewidmet, der mit A. B. Meyer zusammen in den ‘Birds of Celebes’ interessante Notizen über diese Gruppe gab.) Sulu Inseln. Typus Tring Museum, Sulu I. v. ’83, Powell coll. Alle Stücke von den Sulu Inseln, die ich sah, sind ohne Zweifel zur gleichen Form zu rechnen.” ↑
90 Philippine specimens of this genus may be the recently described Budytes flavus alascensis but no specimens of that race are available for comparison. Cf. Ridgway, Bds. North and Middle America (1904), 3, 8 and 10. ↑
91 Cf. Richmond, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Washington (1903), 26, 504. ↑
92 In the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum this species falls under “a. With the hind claw decidedly shorter than the hallux.” but in the figures of the foot in the Catalogue and in the Fauna of British India the claw is decidedly longer than the hallux, and Sharpe (p. 565) says: “Hind claw long and straight, a trifle shorter than hind toe, but sometimes longer.” ↑
93 Coues describes this, the most important character of the family, in the following words: “But the most tangible characteristic of the family [Fringillidæ] is angulation of the commissure. The commissure runs in a straight line, or with a slight curve, to or near to the base of the bill, and is then more or less abruptly bent down at a varying angle—the cutting edge of the upper mandible forming a reëntrance, that of the lower mandible a corresponding salience. In familiar terms, we might say that the corners of the mouth are drawn down—that the finches, though very merry little birds, are literally ‘down in the mouth.’ In the great majority of cases this feature is unmistakable, and in the grosbeaks, for example, it is very strongly marked indeed; but in some of the smaller-billed forms, and especially those with slender bills, it is hardly perceptible.” ↑
94 This species is called “tree sparrow” by some authors. ↑
95 Chlorura Reichenbach, 1863, is preoccupied by Chlorura Sclater, 1862. ↑
96 Grant’s diagnosis of Chlorura brunneiventris follows: “C. similis C. borneensi, Sharpe, sed abdomine quoque rufescente, pectore concolore; pectoris lateribus caeruleo lavatis; fronte caerulea laetiore et minus extensa. Long. tot. 4.2 poll., alae 2.3.” ↑
97 “Characters.—Slightly larger than Dicrurus balicassius from Luzon Island; also differing in having the metallic reflections of the upper parts and breast greenish blue instead of bluish green.
“Measurements of type (adult male).—Wing, 148; tail, 130; culmen, 27; tarsus, 25.” (Mearns.) ↑
98 Wrongly given as “Mindanao” in McGregor and Worcester’s Hand-List, p. 107. ↑
99 This recently published description is based upon one specimen and the species is compared with neither Chibia borneensis nor C. pectoralis. Mearns’s description follows:
“Characters.—Very similar to Chibia palawanensis, differing only in its somewhat larger size, shallower forking of the tail, the narrower and very much smaller spangles on the breast, and in the absence of metallic green on the upper tail-coverts.
“Measurements of skin (type and only specimen).—Length, 260; wing, 136; tail, 126; emargination of tail, 16; culmen (chord), 28.5; tarsus, 24.5.” (Mearns.) ↑
100 The description of Chibia borneensis follows: “C. similis C. pectorali ex insulis Sulaensibus, sed plumis lanceolatis colli lateralis metallice chalybeo-viridibus nec purpurascentibus, et maculis jugularibus et praepectoralibus valde minoribus et conspicue metallicis chalybeo-viridibus distinguenda. Long. tot. 10, culm. 1.3, alae 5.9, caudae, 4.5, tarsi 0.85.” (Sharpe.) ↑
101 The name myna is restricted by Jerdon, and other writers on Indian ornithology, to the species of Acridotheres and Temenuchus, while the species of Eulabes are called hill mynas. Mina, maina, and minor are merely variants of myna. ↑
102 The status of “Sarcops lowii” is doubtful; the description follows: “This species appears to be distinguished from the ordinary Sarcops calvus by its gray mantle, which resembles the rest of the back, and by the color of the under surface, which is silvery gray with a narrow blackish line down the center of the body, whereas in S. calvus the mantle is black, and the under surface also, only the flanks being gray.” (Sharpe.) ↑
103 See note under crested myna. ↑
104 The Philippine crow is given in Table II of Everett’s paper on the birds of Palawan, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1889), 225, and this record is repeated in McGregor and Worcester’s Hand-List (1906), 110, but there appears to be no other evidence of the occurrence of the Philippine crow in Palawan. ↑