Chapter XX: Preface (19)

Female.--Differs from the male in having top of head black, each feather with a small, sharply defined, white spot. Wing, 142; tail, 88; culmen from base, 40; tarsus, 24.

365. CHRYSOCOLAPTES LUCIDUS (Scopoli).

SCOPOLI'S GOLDEN FLICKER.

Picus lucidus Scopoli, Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr. (1796), 2, 89.
Chrysocolaptes lucidus Hargitt, Cat. Birds. Brit. Mus. (1890),
18, 455; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 228; McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 65.

Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Mindanao (Everett, Murray, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp.,
Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow).

Male.--Top of head, back, and rump scarlet; mantle and wings dull golden yellow, the feathers edged with dull crimson, producing a mixture of yellow and red on these parts; tail brown; upper tail-coverts dull golden, washed with crimson; under parts olive-brown, most of the feathers with round buff spots or tips. Length, 275; wing, 142; tail, 99; culmen from base, 43; tarsus, 27.

Female.--Similar to the male but feathers on top of head olive-green, washed with dull crimson and each feather having a pale yellow spot at its tip. Wing, 134; tail, 92; culmen from base, 38; tarsus, 26.

"Young.--The male differs from the adult of the same sex in having less red on the feathers of the back, which, together with the scapulars, are more spotted with white, some of these spots being exposed; face duller yellow; chest and upper breast dusky olive, the feathers having close to the tip a large heart-shaped spot of pale golden buff, with a concealed spot of pure white separated from it by a dusky bar. The female has the feathers of the forehead, crown, occiput, and nape olive-golden, with dusky olive bases, the crown-feathers slightly tinged with red, those of the occiput and nape more so, the whole being covered with small rounded spots of golden white; the chin, throat, and malar region whiter, the latter without any tinge of red." (Hargitt.)

"Common in Mindanao and Basilan. Found both in forest and in second growth. Seven males from Mindanao measure, 262 in length; wing, 133; tail, 79; culmen, 45; tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw, 31. Four females, length, 267; wing, 134; tail, 68; culmen, 35; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 31. Iris red; legs and feet dull greenish white; upper mandible black, lower greenish." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

366. CHRYSOCOLAPTES MONTANUS Grant.

MOUNTAIN GOLDEN FLICKER.

Chrysocolaptes montanus Grant, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club (1905), 16,
16; Ibis (1906), 485.

Mindanao (Goodfellow, Celestino).

Adult.--"Adult male and female differ from the male and female of C. lucidus in having the mantle and wing-coverts orange with scarcely a tinge of crimson. In the female also the top of the head and occipital crest are orange, not washed with crimson. In the male: 'Iris red; upper mandible black, lower greenish yellow; feet blackish gray.' In the female: 'Iris ruby-red; upper mandible black, lower greenish yellow; feet grayish olive.' Length, about 241; culmen, 38; wing, 132; tail, 74; tarsus, 28.

"In C. lucidus the greater part of the wing-coverts and the outer margins of the secondaries are crimson, giving the whole wing a crimson appearance, whereas in the present form, though some of the males have narrow crimson-orange edges to the wing-coverts, the general color of the wings is distinctly orange.

"This form may be regarded as a partially alpine representative of C. lucidus, of which it is no doubt a subspecies; it also occurs on the coast, for two fully adult male specimens were procured at Piso." (Grant.)

367. CHRYSOCOLAPTES RUFOPUNCTATUS Hargitt.

RED-SPOTTED GOLDEN FLICKER.

Chrysocolaptes rufopunctatus Hargitt, Ibis (1889), 231; Cat. Birds
Brit. Mus. (1890), 18, 457, pl. 12; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2,
228; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 65.
Chrysocolaptes samarensis Steere, List Birds & Mams. Steere
Exped. (1890), 8.

Bohol (McGregor); Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Panaon (Everett);
Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).

Male.--Above bright crimson, similar to C. hæmatribon; below black with large pear-shaped buff spots; lower parts similar to C. lucidus but the cheeks washed with pale crimson. Length, 275; wing, 141: tail, 87; culmen from base, 40; tarsus, 27.

Female.--Very similar to the female of C. hæmatribon but the entire head washed with crimson; lower parts as in the male. Wing, 140; tail, 86; culmen from base, 38; tarsus, 27.

"Usually found in the forest. Quite abundant in Samar. Three males measure, 273 in length; wing, 138; tail, 75; culmen, 36; tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw, 33. Iris dull cherry-red; legs and feet dull olive-yellow, nails black; bill nearly black. Food, larvæ." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

368. CHRYSOCOLAPTES XANTHOCEPHALUS Walden and Layard.

YELLOW-HEADED GOLDEN FLICKER.

Chrysocolaptes xanthocephalus Walden and Layard, Ibis (1872), 99,
pl. 4; Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890), 18, 457; Sharpe,
Hand-List (1900), 2, 228; McGregor and Worcester; Hand-List
(1906), 65.

Tu-ba-lá-tuc, Masbate; tuc-tuc-ba-lá-tuc, Ticao.

Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester);
Negros (Layard, Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Keay);
Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).

Male.--Forehead, crown, and occiput light crimson; lores, a narrow line over eye, cheeks, and ear-coverts light golden yellow; mantle, back, rump, secondaries, and secondary-coverts crimson, not so bright as crown; alula, primary-coverts, and primaries edged with dull golden yellow; chin yellow with a black line down the middle and a black line on each side; neck and fore breast blackish brown, each feather with a large spot of pale yellow or yellowish buff; rest of under parts uniform yellow; tail dark brown. Iris carmine; bill dark brown above, greenish below; legs pale yellow; nails dark horn-brown. Length, 260; wing, 148; tail, 90; culmen from base, 40; tarsus, 26.

Female.--Similar to the male but differs in having the crown and crest golden yellow like the sides of head. Wing, 145; tail, 94; culmen from base, 39; tarsus, 24.

"Habits like those of C. lucidus. Seven males from Masbate measure, 274 in length; wing, 144; tail, 80; culmen, 35; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 31. Three females, length, 283; wing, 144; tail, 85; culmen, 34; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 31. Iris red; legs and feet light yellow; upper mandible black, lower dull green." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Genus LICHTENSTEINIPICUS Bonaparte, 1854.

Culmen slightly curved for its entire length; nasal ridge prominent; nostrils partly concealed by plumes; occipital crest short; plumage slate-black; chin, throat, and sides of neck with a minute white spot at the tip of each feather.

Species.

a1. Plumage black; malar region and forehead crimson in the male. ... funebris (p. 403) a2. Plumage slaty smoke-gray; malar region scarlet in the male. ... fuliginosus (p. 404)

369. LICHTENSTEINIPICUS FUNEBRIS (Valenciennes).

FUNEREAL WOODPECKER.

Picus funebris Valenciennes, Dict. Sc. Nat. (1826), 40, 179.
Microstictus funebris Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890), 18,
492; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 230; [46] McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 66.

Catanduanes (Whitehead); Luzon (Meyer, Heriot, Steere Exp.,
Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.).

Male.--Black with a slight gloss on wings and back; throat and abdomen smoky brown; lores, forehead, cheeks, and a wide space around each eye deep crimson; chin, throat, sides and back of neck with a small white spot at the tip of each feather. Iris pale yellow; bill white; legs plumbeous; nails light horn-blue. Length, 330; wing, 156; tail, 138; culmen from base, 37; tarsus, 29.

Female.--Similar to the male but with no crimson anywhere on the head; the cheeks, like the throat, spotted with white. Length, 315; wing, 155; tail, 133; culmen from base, 34; tarsus, 27.

This species is fairly common in the lowland forests of Luzon.

370. LICHTENSTEINIPICUS FULIGINOSUS (Tweeddale).

SOOTY WOODPECKER.

Mulleripicus fuliginosus Tweeddale, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (1877),
20, 534; Proc. Zool. Soc. (1877), 821, pl. 83.
Microstictus fuliginosus Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890),
18, 492; Grant, Ibis (1897), 246; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2,
230; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 66.

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

"Adult male (type of species).--Plumage slaty gray, the whole of the body, wings, and tail uniform, the head (except the loral and orbital region) and neck spotted with white, the spots on the top of the head and on the nape having a striped character, those on the chin and throat larger and more or less triangular in shape; a large patch of brilliant scarlet covers the entire malar region and extends upwards nearly to the eye; shafts of the quills and of the tail-feathers dusky black. 'Iris naples-yellow.' (Everett.) Length, 305; culmen, 41; wing, 160; tail, 110; tarsus, 30." (Hargitt.)

"Adult female.--Closely resembles the female of M. funebris, but may be distinguished by the general color of the plumage being grayer; the ground-color of the chin and throat gray like the cheeks, and the white dots distinctly larger. In the female of M. funebris the chin and throat are brownish gray, and contrast with the blackish gray cheeks. Length, 269; culmen, 37; wing, 147; tail, 104; tarsus, 28." (Grant.)

Genus MULLERIPICUS Bonaparte, 1854.

Of large size; bill very powerful; proximal half of culmen curved, distal half straight; nostrils large, oval, and covered by feathers; nasal ridge prominent; feathers of head short; no crest.

371. MULLERIPICUS PULVERULENTUS (Temminck).

GREAT SLATY WOODPECKER.

Picus pulverulentus Temminck, Pl. Col. (1826), 389.
Hemilophus pulverulentus Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890),
18, 494.
Alophonerpes pulverulentus Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 230.
Mulleripicus pulverulentus McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 66.

Balabac (Everett); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp.,
Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White). Sumatra, Cochin China,
Malay Peninsula, Burmese provinces, northwestern India, Java,
Borneo, Himalayas.

Adult male.--Blackish slate, abdomen and crissum lighter; feathers of crown, occiput, neck, sides of neck, and breast with small gray tips producing a spotted appearance, most pronounced on occiput and neck; on malar region below each eye a large patch of light crimson; chin and throat saffron-yellow, washed with pink or light red on the posterior part. Length of a male from Palawan, 465; wing, 235; tail, 165; culmen from base, 65; tarsus, 38.

Adult female.--Differs from the male in having no red on cheeks and but a slight wash of pink on the throat. Wing, 235; tail, 180; culmen from base, 64; tarsus, 35.

"Young male.--Differs from the adult male in having the entire malar region, forehead, and greater part of the crown washed with pale crimson, this color being very faint upon the crown; the head darker slaty gray and the tips of the feathers less white; upper parts rather browner; the under surface of the body unspotted; abdomen, sides of the body, and under tail-coverts more of a dusky brown, but assuming the dark slaty-gray plumage; chin, throat, and fore neck light buff, the latter washed with pale red. It has also a pale crimson stripe, rather than a spot, and the hinder part of the malar region, as in the adult." (Hargitt.)

"Quite abundant in some parts of Palawan. Shot on dead trees in clearings, and in low scrub. We failed to find it in the Calamianes. Two males average, 467 in length; wing, 227; tail, 147; culmen, 59; tarsus, 34; middle toe with claw, 41. A female, length, 457; wing, 220; tail, 140; culmen, 59; tarsus, 31; middle toe with claw, 44. Iris very dark brown; legs and feet dull leaden, nails nearly black; upper mandible black except along gape and at base where it is gray; lower mandible light gray." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Genus THRIPONAX Cabanis and Heine, 1863.

Culmen nearly straight; nasal ridges well developed; nostrils scantily covered; plumage mostly black, abdomen white; both sexes with a full scarlet crest; length, from 380 to 410 mm.

Species.

a1. Breast black, without light edges to the feathers.

b1. Rump black. ... javensis (p. 406)
b2. Rump with a white band.

c1. White spot at base of primaries smaller; bill stouter, width
at anterior border of nostrils, 14 to 16 mm.; lower mandible
dirty ivory-yellow. ... hargitti (p. 409)
c2. White spot at base of primaries larger; bill more slender,
width at anterior border of nostrils, 12 to 14 mm.; lower mandible
blackish. ... mindorensis (p. 408)

a2. Breast, throat, and chin black mixed with white and buff.

b1. Light buff or whitish edges of breast-feathers very wide,
giving the breast a mottled appearance. ... pectoralis (p. 407)
b2. Light buff edges of breast-feathers narrow, forming numerous
crescentic markings. ... multilunatus (p. 408)

372. THRIPONAX JAVENSIS (Horsfield).

MALAY BLACK WOODPECKER.

Picus javensis Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1821), 13, pt. 1, 175.
Thriponax javensis Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890), 18, 498
(part); Grant, Ibis (1894), 409; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 231
(part); McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 66 (part). [47]
Thriponax javensis var. suluensis Blasius, Jour. für
Ornith. (1890), 140.

Tul-tu-lan, Benguet.

Bongao (Everett); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Luzon
(Meyer, Everett, Heriot, Whitehead, McGregor); Mindanao (Koch &
Schadenberg, Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester,
Goodfellow); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns &
Worcester, Everett). Malay Peninsula, southern Tenasserim, Sumatra,
Java, Borneo, Banka.

Adult male.--Nasal tufts black; forehead, crown, occipital crest, and malar stripe bright scarlet; feathers of forehead and crown with white bases; feathers of crest with white bases; remainder of head, chin, throat, breast, and entire upper parts black; feathers of lower back with concealed white or gray bases; a few narrow white stripes on throat and behind ear-coverts; abdomen and flanks pale yellow or buffy white; thighs black, some of the feathers with pale buff edges; under tail-coverts black; wings and tail black; three or four primaries white at base of inner web; secondaries with considerable white on inner webs. Length, about 435; wing, 210; tail, 170; culmen from base, 53; bill from nostril, 41; width of bill at gape, 19; tarsus, 32.

Adult female.--Similar to the male but the forehead, crown, and malar region black, occipital crest alone being red. These sexual differences are found in all the Philippine species of the genus. Wing, 200; tail, 160; culmen from base, 47; bill from nostril, 38; width of bill at gape, 18; tarsus, 31.

Here described from Luzon specimens. An adult male from Trong, lower Siam, differs only in having a slightly larger bill and longer wing.

Young birds have the abdomen white, and the malar stripe entirely black or with a few red spots.

"If the Luzon record of this species is correct, and we can see no reason for doubting it, the distribution of T. javensis within the Philippines is very peculiar. Why should it disappear in Samar and Leyte, to reappear in Cebu and Luzon? There is not the slightest doubt as to the identity of the Cebu birds, of which we have a fine series.

"Three males from Sulu average, 400 in length; wing, 185; tail, 146; culmen, 45; tarsus, 28; middle toe with claw, 39. Two females from same place, length, 384; wing, 192; tail, 141; culmen, 42; tarsus, 28; middle toe with claw, 36.

"Cebu birds are slightly larger. Two males average, 403 in length; wing, 204; tail, 158; culmen, 48; tarsus, 29; middle toe with claw, 41. Two females, length, 407; wing, 198; tail, 159; culmen, 45; tarsus, 29; middle toe with claw, 37.

"Iris varies from light to dark yellow; legs and feet gray; nails nearly black; upper mandible black, lower dirty white. Food, ants." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

373. THRIPONAX PECTORALIS Tweeddale.

TWEEDDALE'S BLACK WOODPECKER.

Thriponax pectoralis Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 340;
Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890), 18, 500, pl. 13; Sharpe,
Hand-List (1900), 2, 23; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 66.

Bohol (McGregor); Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead); Panaon
(Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).

Adult male.--Upper parts as in T. javensis; chin and throat white with narrow black shaft-stripes; ear-coverts and sides of neck black, narrowly streaked with white; breast-feathers black with edges and tips light buff; rest of under parts as in T. javensis but with more buff on the thighs. A few feathers of breast and hind neck may be tipped with red but this character is variable. Length of a male from Bohol, about 450; wing, 224; tail, 200; culmen from base, 50; bill from nostril, 39; width of bill at base, 19; tarsus, 33.

"Adult female.--Has the forehead and crown black; the malar region white, striped with black. In other respects like the adult male. Length, 419; culmen, 48; wing, 199; tail, 169; tarsus, 34.

"Young male.--Differs from the adult of the same sex in having the white of the throat and fore neck duller, and the striations less intense black; the feathers of the malar region white, with dusky bases, a few assuming the red tips." (Hargitt.)

"A well-marked species which takes the place of T. javensis in Panaon, Leyte, and Samar. Quite abundant in Samar. Usually met with in the forest. Occasionally seen in second growth.

"Three males average, 434 in length; wing, 198; tail, 159; culmen, 51; tarsus, 33; middle toe with claw, 48. Two females, length, 419; wing, 201; tail, 154; culmen, 47; tarsus, 32; middle toe with claw, 41. Iris light yellow; legs and feet light slate; nails nearly black; upper mandible black, lower grayish white." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

374. THRIPONAX MULTILUNATUS McGregor.

BASILAN BLACK WOODPECKER.

Thriponax javensis McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 66,
(part).
Thriponax multilunatus McGregor, Phil. Jour. Sci. (1907), 2,
sec. A, 285.

Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor).

Adult male.--Forehead, crown, crest, and malar-stripe bright crimson, the feathers whitish at base; nasal plumes blackish; lores and a wide transocular band black; rest of upper parts, wings, and tail black; second, third, and fourth primaries with a white spot at base of inner web; third to seventh primaries with a white spot at tip of outer web; inner secondaries white at base; chin, throat, and postauricular area black, each feather narrowly margined with whitish, producing a striped appearance; breast black, the feathers of fore part narrowly bordered with buffy, producing a series of crescentic light marks; abdomen and sides buffy white; thighs black, each feather widely bordered with light buff; vent and tail-coverts black. Length in flesh, 420; wing, 210; tail, 166; culmen from base, 52; tarsus, 29.

Adult female.--Forehead, crown, and malar-stripe black, otherwise like the male. Wing, 215; tail, 185; culmen from base, 50; bill from nostril, 38; tarsus, 31.

375. THRIPONAX MINDORENSIS Steere.

MINDORO BLACK WOODPECKER.

Thriponax mindorensis Steere, List Birds & Mams. Steere
Exped. (1890), 8; Grant, Ibis (1896), 473; Sharpe, Hand-List
(1900), 2, 231; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 67.

Ma-nuc'-toc, Mindoro.

Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, Everett,
McGregor, Porter).

Adult.--Very much like T. javensis but clearly distinguished from that species by having a wide light buff or white band across the lower back; from T. hargitti it differs in having a more slender bill which is entirely black. A female measures: Length, 394; wing, 215; tail, 170; culmen from base, 47; bill from nostril, 35; width of bill at base, 18; tarsus, 31.

"Very abundant in the interior of Mindoro. Two females average, 381 in length; wing, 191; tail, 145; culmen, 45; tarsus, 27; middle toe with claw, 37. Iris straw-yellow; legs and feet leaden; nails nearly black; bill black." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

376. THRIPONAX HARGITTI Sharpe.

HARGITT'S BLACK WOODPECKER.

Thriponax hargitti Sharpe, Ibis (1884), 317, pl. 8; Hand-List
(1900), 2, 231, no. 9; Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890),
18, 505; Clarke, Ibis (1895), 474; (1898), 121; [48] Grant, Ibis
(1896), 558; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 67.
Thriponax philippinensis Steere, List Birds & Mams. Steere
Exped. (1890), 8; Bourns and Worcester, Minnesota
Acad. Nat. Sci. Occ. Papers (1894), 1, 53.
Thriponax philippensis Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 231, no. 8.

Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester,
McGregor); Negros (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Panay
(Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere
Exp., Bourns & Worcester).

Adult.--Differs from T. javensis in having a wide band of light buff across the lower back thus resembling T. mindorensis from which it differs in having a much stouter bill and in having lower mandible gray or horn-white; lower mandible in dry skin dull yellow with a gray tip. In males the red malar-stripe is longer than in the other species mentioned and many of the black feathers of chin and sides of neck are tipped with red. Length of male, 420; wing, 220; tail, 180; culmen from base, 51; bill from nostril, 38; width of bill at base, 20; tarsus, 36. Wing of female, 218; tail, 185; culmen from base, 52; bill from nostril, 38; tarsus, 33.

The description and measurements above are from specimens taken in Masbate, one of the type localities of Thriponax philippinensis of Steere. In Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum the type locality of Thriponax hargitti is given as Palawan. Of these two supposed species Grant says: "The types have been compared and agree in all particulars." It seems to me almost incredible that this genus should be represented by the same species in Masbate and Palawan but as I have seen no specimens from the latter island I follow Grant's identification.

"Iris yellow; legs, feet, and nails leaden; upper mandible black, lower horn-gray. Three males average, 430 in length; wing, 207; tail, 174; culmen, 50; tarsus, 48; middle toe with claw, 39. Three females, length, 410; wing, 204; tail, 169; culmen, 50; tarsus, 31; middle toe with claw, 39." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Order EURYLÆMIFORMES.

BROAD BILLS.

Bill very wide and depressed; nostrils basal, round, and exposed; third and fourth toes united for nearly half their length.

Family EURYLÆMIDÆ.

Characters same as those given for the Order.

Subfamily EURYLÆMINÆ.

Genus SARCOPHANOPS Sharpe, 1877.

Eye surrounded by a wide fleshy wattle; tail short, rectrices strongly graduated; wings moderate, first primary shorter than sixth, fourth longest; a well-defined wing-bar across the secondaries.

Species.

a1. Back gray; wing-bar yellow and white. ... steeri (p. 410) a2. Back vinaceous; wing-bar vinaceous and white. ... samarensis (p. 411)

377. SARCOPHANOPS STEERI (Sharpe).

STEERE'S BROADBILL.

Eurylamus steerii Sharpe, Nature (1876), 14, 297.
Sarcophanops steerii Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1877), 1, 344,
pl. 54; Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 462; Bourns and
Worcester, Occ. Papers Minnesota Acad. Nat. Sci. (1804), 1, 53;
Hartert, Genera Avium, Eurylæmidæ (1905), 6, pl. 1, fig. 6 (head).
Sarcophanops steerei Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 2; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

378. SARCOPHANOPS SAMARENSIS Steere.

SAMAR BROADBILL.

Sarcophanops samarensis Steere, List Birds & Mams. Steere
Exp. (1890), 23; Bourns and Worcester, Minnesota
Acad. Nat. Sci. Occ. Papers (1894), 1, 54; Hartert, Genera Avium,
Eurylæmidæ (1905), 6; Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 2; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

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

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

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

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

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

Order PASSERIFORMES.

PASSERINE BIRDS.

Bill hard and horny, never extensively membranous, softly tumid, nor cered; nostrils without open communication; greater wing-coverts not more than one-half the length of the secondaries; primaries usually ten, more rarely nine; rectrices twelve, rarely ten; feet adapted for perching; hind toe and claw well developed and inserted on the level of the anterior toes; hind claw equal to, or longer than, the claw of middle toe; anterior toes three in number, never versatile, always free except when webbed or fused at base.

The order Passeriformes includes nearly as many species, among Philippine birds, as all the other orders combined. Most of the species of this order are less than 200, and very few of them are more than 300, millimeters in length. The small birds belonging to other orders are extremely few. Most ornithologists consider the Passeriformes to be the order of highest rank among birds, chiefly because of the highly developed vocal powers of many of the species. In the arrangement of the families of this order, the Turdidæ, Fringillidæ, and Corvidæ have variously been assigned to the place indicating the highest development.

Suborders. [49]

a1. Tarsus with its hinder portion somewhat compressed, but the posterior edge rounded and entire. Mesomyodi, or Clamatores (p. 413) a2. Tarsus with its hinder portion compressed and forming a sharp edge; or else the hinder face rounded and distinctly divided by transverse joints. ... Acromyodi, or ... Oscines (p. 422)

Suborder MESOMYODI.

Characters the same as those given in the key to Suborders.

Family PITTIDÆ.

Rectrices twelve; tarsus booted, or with obsolete, diagonal divisions.

Genus PITTA Vieillot, 1816.

Bill stout and compressed; culmen curved; gonys slightly curved; nostrils large and oval, entirely exposed; rictal and frontal bristles very short; wings short and curved to the body; first primary nearly as long as second, fourth longest; secondaries shorter than the primaries by the length of hind toe without claw; tail short, soft, and square, scarcely longer than its under coverts; tarsus and toes well developed, the former longer than tail and the latter extending entirely beyond the tip of tail. Colors various combinations of black, white, brown, bright scarlet, green, and blue.

Species.

a1. Entire abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts bright red.

b1. Smaller; tarsus, less than 38 mm.; secondaries and
secondary-coverts dark blue.

c1. Back entirely green, including the scapulars; chest green with
a slight wash of blue on the central portion. ... erythrogastra
(p. 414)
c2. Back, including the scapulars, entirely cobalt; chest bright
blue, only the sides greenish. ... propinqua (p. 416)

b2. Larger; tarsus, more than 45 mm.; secondaries and
secondary-coverts olive-green. ... kochi (p. 417)

a2. Only the under tail-coverts, crissum, and middle of abdomen red.

b1. Throat and chin entirely black.

c1. Smaller. ... atricapilla (p. 418); rothschildi (p. 420)
c2. Larger. ... mulleri (p. 419)

b2. Throat mostly white.

c1. Breast and sides light blue. ... steeri (p. 420)
c2. Breast and sides fawn. ... moluccensis (p. 421)

379. PITTA ERYTHROGASTRA Temminck.

RED-BREASTED PITTA. [50]

Pitta erythrogastra Temminck, Pl. Col. (1823), 212; Sclater,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 432; Grant, Ibis (1896), 121;
Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 243 (critical remarks on Pitta propinqua).
Pitta erythrogaster Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 182; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

A-li-mu-cung, Ticao; hu-hu-co, Ticao and Masbate; li-o-co, Manila.

Basilan (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor);
Bongao (Everett); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor);
Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester);
Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Cuming,
Heriot, Steere Exp., McGregor, Whitehead); Marinduque (Steere
Exp.); Masbate (McGregor, Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Steere,
Murray, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow,
Celestino); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Negros (Keay); Palawan (Bourns & Worcester); Panay (Bourns &
Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Samar (Steere
Exp.); Sibutu (Everett); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Platen); Tablas (Bourns &
Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).

Adult (sexes similar).--Head, sides of head, and neck reddish brown, most intense on occiput; on each side of head a blackish brown band from nostril to above eye; a blue collar, followed by a dull green patch on mantle; back, rump, tail, and most of the wing blue; chin brown, merging into black on fore breast, followed by a wide dull green pectoral band which is more or less mixed with blue in its middle; rest of under parts bright scarlet; longest under tail-coverts tipped with blue; primaries black with blue tips, the third and fourth each with a white spot half way between tip and base; wing-coverts blue, a few of the outer lesser series with large white spots; tail blue above, black below. Length, 160 to 180. A male from Romblon measures: Wing, 97; tail, 35; culmen from base, 21; tarsus, 35. A female from Bohol, wing, 97; tail, 36; culmen from base, 21; tarsus, 36.

Young.--The young bird is very different from the adult, particularly in the coloring of the lower parts which are light earthy brown with very little red on the abdomen; upper parts dull brown; as the bird becomes older the adult plumage gradually makes its appearance; a great number of specimens would be necessary to show all the changes from young to adult.

"The red-breasted pitta is common throughout the islands; it is found on the ground, usually in dark places in the forest and in second growth. Ten males from Mindanao average: Length, 170; wing, 98; tail, 37; culmen, 22; tarsus, 34; middle toe with claw, 29. Six females from the same place, length, 162; wing, 98; tail, 37; culmen, 22; tarsus, 34; middle toe with claw, 29. Iris dark brown; legs, feet, and nails dark brown; bill black." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

"Nearly mature males of this red-bellied pitta were collected near Cape Engaño. Mr. Whitehead is of the opinion, Ibis (1893), 505, that Pitta propinqua Sharpe, is not specifically distinct from the present species. The type of P. propinqua came from the Island of Balabac, and since Mr. Whitehead examined the British Museum series we have obtained, through Mr. Everett, an adult male from the typical locality. This bird agrees perfectly with Dr. Sharpe's original description, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1877), 1, 330, and differs much from the typical examples of P. erythrogastra. It must, however, be stated, that both forms were found by Mr. Whitehead in the Island of Palawan, one of his specimens being almost typical P. propinqua, and, given a larger series, we should probably find that the two forms pass more or less one into the other in Palawan. Still P. propinqua is a very well-marked insular form, and I consider Dr. Sharpe fully justified in regarding it as distinct. Both he and Dr. Sclater are certainly mistaken, however, in regarding the '[male] juv. Dumalon, Mindanao,' collected by Prof. Steere, as the young of P. propinqua, the Mindanao bird being typical P. erythrogastra." (Grant.)

380. PITTA PROPINQUA (Sharpe).

PALAWAN PITTA.

Brachyurus propinquus Sharpe,
Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d. ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 330.
Pitta propinqua Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 433;
Everett, Ibis (1895), 28; Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 182;
McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

Balabac (Steere, Everett); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Bourns &
Worcester, Everett).

Adult.--"Back entirely cobalt, including the scapulars; only the middle of the back green washed with blue, forming a band across the back; throat entirely brownish black, becoming jet-black on the fore neck; chest bright blue, the sides only greenish; under wing-coverts dull blue." (Sharpe.)

"Dr. Sharpe founded his Brachyurus propinquus on an adult male bird obtained by Dr. Steere in Balabac. Dr. Steere obtained a second specimen of a red-bellied pitta, also a male, but in very immature plumage, at Dumalon, near Zamboanga, in Mindanao, and this bird Dr. Sharpe assigned also to be B. propinquus, though not without hesitation. Owing to the meager material available, the validity of this species has always been open to question; and hence I made a point of securing a series of these red-bellied pittas from Balabac and Palawan, with the result that it has at length become possible to compare adult birds from Balabac with adult birds from Luzon, Mindanao, and Palawan.

"The characters relied upon by Dr. Sharpe as distinguishing P. propinqua from typical P. erythrogastra were: (1) Back entirely cobalt, including the scapulars; only the middle of the back green, washed with blue, forming a band across the back. (2) Throat entirely brownish black, becoming jet-black on the fore neck. (3) Chest bright blue, the sides only greenish. (4) Under wing-coverts dull blue, instead of grayish brown.

"Of these characters the last three appear to be of no value, as birds from Luzon and Mindanao present them in greater or less degree, and I have come to the conclusion that they belong to the fully-adult birds, from whatever locality. But on viewing the upper surfaces of a series of Balabac-Palawan specimens side by side with a series of Luzon-Mindanao birds, the first mentioned character is at once seen to be a good one, the green tract on the back of the former series forming a comparatively narrow band, whereas in the latter series it extends nearly to the rump. It is noticeable, further, that the cobalt and green hues are much brighter than in any of the specimens from Luzon or Mindanao, though it is no doubt very possible that this may be owing to the freshness of the Balabac-Palawan skins.

"I have, therefore, no longer any doubt that P. propinqua differs sufficiently from P. erythrogastra to make it necessary that it should be separated from the latter by the appropriate appellation which Dr. Sharpe originally bestowed upon it. And in this case it will follow that the locality 'Mindanao' given in the 'Catalogue of Birds' will require correction, as, indeed, it would in any case, for the type was described from Balabac." (Everett.) [51]

381. PITTA KOCHI Bruggemann.

KOCH'S PITTA.

Pitta kochi Bruggemann, Abhandl. naturw. Ver. Bremen (1877), 65,
pl. 3, fig. 6; Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 433;
Grant, Ibis (1895), 457; Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 244 (habits);
Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 182; McGRegor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 68.
Erythropitta kochi, Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 430,
pl. 26.

Luzon (von Othberg, Whitehead).

"This species was based on a specimen in the Darmstadt Museum, of which Mr. Gould gives the subjoined description:

"'General color above dull olive-brown, with somewhat of a ruddy tint on the sides of the neck and mantle; wing-coverts lilac-gray, the primary-coverts and quills blackish brown; the primaries externally grayish towards their ends; the secondaries and inner greater coverts olive-brown, washed with lilac-gray on the outer webs; the second, third, and fourth primaries with a large white spot on the inner web, the last-named having the white spot on the outer web as well; upper tail-coverts and tail lilac-gray, the latter darker; forehead and crown, as well as the lores, region of the eye, and ear-coverts dark brown, the latter slightly shaded with an olive tinge; nape and hind neck dull red; cheeks ashy brown, with a bluish shade under certain lights, forming a very broad moustache; throat reddish in the center, brown on the sides, forming a malar stripe; the fore neck red with a tinge of lilac; chest lilac-gray, the sides olive-brown; remainder of under surface of body scarlet; the sides olive-brown, with which color the center of the abdomen is washed; under tail-coverts scarlet, the longer ones tipped and edged with lilac-blue; thighs ashy gray; under wing-coverts dull lilac-blue, some of the outer ones tipped with white; axillars olive-brown, like the back; quills ashy brown below, relieved by the before-mentioned white spots on the primaries. Length, 190, culmen, 30; wing, 119; tail, 56; tarsus, 53.'

"The large size and dark brown ear-coverts are the distinguishing features of this pitta." (Sclater.)

"Immature female.--Top of the head rather dark brown, shading gradually into a more rufous tint on the nape; all the feathers have rather darker margins, giving these parts a slightly scaled appearance; a few of the dull red feathers of the adult are beginning to make their appearance; the dark olive on the rest of the upper parts has a somewhat browner shade, though here and there some of the greener feathers of the adult plumage may be seen; the grayish blue of the outer wing-coverts and outer webs of the secondaries is replaced by dull olive, and the slate-blue of the upper tail-coverts and tail is not so bright; the ear-coverts are brown, with buff centers; the moustache stripes dirty white, devoid of that reddish shade characteristic of the adult plumage; the chin and throat-feathers with white centers and black margins and bases, those on the fore neck being conspicuously white, washed with reddish; the chest-feathers are whitish buff, with here and there a few slate-blue feathers; rest of the under parts dirty whitish buff, most of the feathers, especially those on the sides and flanks, margined with brownish buff; a few pale scarlet feathers indicate the colors of the adult, but are much less brilliant.

"In more advanced examples the upper parts entirely resemble those of the fully adult bird, but the slate-blue on the wings is almost wanting; the fore neck and chest are still intermixed with white-and-buff centered feathers, and on the rest of the under parts the scarlet feathers of the adult and the whitish buff of the juvenile plumage are represented in about equal parts.

"It is difficult to imagine anything more glorious than the colors of the fully adult male, the brilliant scarlet of the lower breast and belly contrasting vividly with the shining slate-blue chest.

"The adult female differs from the male only in having the colors of the under parts rather less brilliant." (Grant.)

Koch's pitta is known only from the highlands of northern Luzon.

382. PITTA ATRICAPILLA Lesson.

BLACK-HEADED PITTA.

Pitta atricapilla Lesson, Trait d'Orn. (1831), 394; Sclater,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 438; Grant and Whitehead, Ibis
(1898), 245 (eggs); Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 245; Sharpe, Hand-List
(1901), 3, 182; Oates and Reid, Cat. Birds' Eggs (1903), 3, 227;
McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

Wow-há, Siquijor and Bohol.

Balabac (Everett); Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Steere, Steere
Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Bongao
(Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Cebu (Bourns &
Worcester, McGregor); Luzon (Meyer, Möllendorff, Steere Exp.,
Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque? [52] (Steere
Exp.); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester);
Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester); Negros (Meyer); Palawan (Steere,
Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester,
White); Romblon (McGregor); Samar (Whitehead); Semirara
(Worcester); Sibuyan (McGregor); Siquijor (Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Platen); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester);
Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).

Adult (sexes similar).--Entire head, neck, chin, and throat velvety black; back and greater part of the wings green, changing with the light; rump and tail-coverts shining silvery blue; tail black, tipped with green; breast and sides bluish green; a large black patch on middle of abdomen; lower abdomen and under tail-coverts bright red; primaries white with black bases, the four or five outer ones with narrow black tips; secondaries black, tipped with green on upper surface; primary-coverts and alula velvety black; lesser and median coverts shining silvery blue. Iris brown; bill black; legs and nails dirty brown. Length, about 180. A male from Romblon, wing, 110; tail, 35; culmen from base, 25; tarsus, 40. A female from Tablas, wing, 102; tail, 34; culmen from base, 26; tarsus, 37.

The amount of white on the outer primaries varies to a great extent; in females it is usually much less than in males.

"The black-headed pitta is called 'wow-ha' by the natives from its note. Iris dark brown; legs, feet, and nails very dark brown; bill black. Twelve males average: Length, 169; wing, 103; tail, 39; culmen, 25; tarsus, 36; middle toe with claw, 32. Three females, length, 167; wing, 100; tail, 37; culmen, 25; tarsus, 36; middle toe with claw, 32." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Whitehead secured a nest of the black-headed pitta near Paranas, Samar, on June 30, 1896. The egg is thus described:

"Shape rounded ovate. Ground-color pure white, thickly speckled all over with brown and larger underlying spots of french-gray, the latter being most numerous round the larger pole. Measurements 26 mm. by 21 mm.

"The nest with two slightly incubated eggs (one of which was broken) were brought by a native, together with the parent birds. The somewhat bulky nest was composed outwardly of twigs and lined with moss." (Grant and Whitehead.)

383. PITTA MULLERI (Bonaparte).

GREATER BLACK-HEADED PITTA.

Brachyurus mulleri Bonaparte, Consp. Genera Avium (1850), 1, 256.
Pitta muelleri Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 439.
Pitta mülleri Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 183; Oates and Reid,
Cat. Birds' Eggs (1903), 3, 228, pl. 6, fig. 18 (egg); McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

Sibutu (Everett). Borneo, Sumatra, Banka.

"Similar to P. atricapilla, but of rather larger dimensions." (Sclater.)

Writing of Pitta atricapilla and P. mulleri Sharpe [53] says: "These two birds are closely related; but the Bornean species [mulleri] almost entirely wants the black patch on the belly, and has the thighs blackish instead of ochraceous brown."

384. PITTA ROTHSCHILDI (Parrot).

ROTHSCHILD'S PITTA.

Pitta atricapilla rothschildi Parrot, Abhandl. K. Bayer
Akad. Wiss. (1907), 24, 223.

Marinduque (Steere Exp.).

Male.--Related to Pitta atricapilla from which it is said to differ in having the under parts suffused with blue so that there is hardly a trace of green remaining; white of the wing-quills much reduced; chest-spot relatively small; and the color of the vent-feathers bright carmine-red not cinnabar-red. [54]

385. PITTA STEERI (Sharpe).

STEERE'S PITTA.

Brachyurus steerii Sharpe, Nature (1876), 14, 297;
Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d. ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 329, pl. 49.
Pitta steerii Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 442;
Grant, Ibis (1897), 241; Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 246 (habits).
Pitta steerei Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 184.
Pitta steeri McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

Bohol (McGregor); Mindanao (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp.); Samar
(Steere Exp., Whitehead).

Adult (sexes similar).--Entire head and neck and their sides black; upper parts green; rump light blue; tail and its coverts black; chin and throat white; rest of under parts light blue, except a band of velvety black down middle of breast, and the bright scarlet of crissum; thighs gray; primaries black, some of them with small white spots near the middle; secondaries green; alula and primary-coverts black; secondary-coverts shiny silvery blue. Iris brown; bill black; legs gray. Length, about 190. A male from Bohol measures: Wing, 115; tail, 38; culmen from base, 26; tarsus, 42. A female measures, wing, 115; tail, 38; culmen from base, 27; tarsus, 40.

Sclater says: "It is impossible to mistake this noble species, distinguished at once by its pure white throat and silvery blue under surface."

"The plumage of some of the young birds, being in an interesting stage of transition, is worth describing. The youngest example, a male, has the upper parts and wings like those of the adult, but the breast, sides, and flanks are of a dirty, grayish olive, only one or two of the silver-blue feathers being visible, and the entire middle of the breast and belly are pale scarlet. A rather older bird is similar to the above, but down the sides and middle of the breast are three lines of pale blue feathers. In both specimens these are being attained by molt. In the middle of the breast a tuft of the black adult feathers is making its appearance amongst the red, and some of the latter appear to be turning black without a molt. * * *." (Grant.)

Steere's pitta is by no means common in any of the islands where it has been found. In Bohol it was collected in forests of small trees growing on coral-limestone hills and Whitehead found the species on similar ground in Samar.

386. PITTA MOLUCCENSIS (P. L. S. Müller).

BLUE-WINGED PITTA.

Turdus moluccensis P. L. S. Müller, Natursyst. Suppl. (1776), 144.
Pitta cyanoptera Temminck, Pl. Col. (1823), 218; Sclater,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 420; Hume, Oates ed. Nests &
Eggs Ind. Bds. (1890), 2, 283; Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 180.
Pitta fastosa McGregor, Phil. Jour. Sci. (1907), 2, sec. A, 286.

Basilan (Celestino). Burma, Siam, Cambodia, southern China,
Malay Peninsula, Borneo.

Adult (sexes alike).--Sides of head including lores, cheeks, supercilia, and ear-coverts black, connected by a wide black collar; wide vertical stripe black, bordered on each side by a wide stripe of fulvous brown, the feathers edged with pale buff on exterior webs; back, scapulars, and tertials dark green; rump, upper tail-coverts, and lesser and median wing-coverts bright ultramarine-blue; chin black; throat white; lower throat, breast, abdomen, and flanks ruddy buff, most intense on breast; vent, under tail-coverts, and middle of abdomen bright red; tail black, tipped with dull blue; primaries black, each feather with a white patch, mesial and smallest on first, reaching tip on seventh; secondaries black, edged with dull blue on terminal half; alula, primary-coverts, axillars, and wing-lining black. A male measures: Wing, 119; tail, 38; culmen from base, 26; bill from nostril, 17; tarsus, 39. A female from Basilan (type of Pitta fastosa) measures: Length in flesh, 190; wing, 117; tail, 40; culmen from base, 28; bill from nostril, 18; tarsus, 36.

The type of Pitta fastosa McGregor proves to be a specimen of P. moluccensis. This species is migratory.

Suborder ACROMYODI.

Characters the same as those given in the key to Suborders.

Families.

a1. Width of gape about twice the length of bill from nostril; bill short and weak; secondaries about one-half as long as wing; legs and feet weak. ... Hirundinidæ (p. 424) a2. Width of gape usually much less than, or at most about equal to, bill from nostril; secondaries more than one-half as long as wing.

b1. Tarsus booted, its anterior face consisting of a single plate,
occasionally with obsolete transverse divisions; or, sometimes with
one or two transverse lines near the foot.

c1. Tarsus not longer than bill from gape, usually much less.

d1. First primary more than one-half the length of the
second. ... Pycnonotidæ (p. 496)
d2. First primary much less than one-half the length of the
second. ... Certhiidæ (p. 611)

c2. Tarsus decidedly longer than bill from gape.

d1. Tertials decidedly shorter than the secondaries.

e1. Usually much larger; tail square, or nearly so; rictal
bristles longer and more numerous; plumage of young mottled
or squamate. ... Turdidæ (p. 541)
e2. Usually much smaller; tail rounded, wedge-shaped, or
strongly graduated; wing never over 100 mm., usually much
less; plumage of young nearly like that of adult, but usually
brighter. ... Sylviidæ (p. 566)

d2. Tertials longer than the secondaries; hind claw usually
longer than the hind toe. ... Motacillidæ (p. 664)

b2. Tarsus distinctly scutellate, in front at least.

c1. Posterior face of tarsus rounded and scutellate. ... Alaudidæ
(p. 673)
c2. Posterior face of tarsus compressed and acute, without
transverse divisions.

d1. Cutting edges of bill minutely serrated.

e1. Bill from nostril more than tarsus; bill slender and
strongly curved. ... Nectarinidæ (p. 641)
e2. Bill from nostril less than tarsus; bill stouter and but
little curved. ... Dicæidæ (p. 622)

d2. Cutting edges of bill not serrated.

e1. First primary wanting; the outermost (second) primary
nearly as long as the next (third) one.

f1. Bill slender, curved, and acute; a circle of white
feathers around the eye (usually). ... Zosteropidæ (p. 613)
f2. Bill stout, conical, and relatively shorter; no circle
of white feathers around the eye. ... Fringillidæ (p. 676)

e2. First primary present, sometimes very minute.

f1. First primary slender, acute, and shorter than
primary-coverts.

g1. Powder-down patches present on the sides, thighs,
and back. ... Artamidæ (p. 589)
g2. Powder-down patches wanting.

h1. Bill short and stout; tips of rectrices
pointed. ... Ploceidæ (p. 687)
h2. Bill moderately long and slender; tips of rectrices
square or rounded. ... Sturnidæ (p. 709)

f2. First primary longer than primary-coverts, its tip
rounded.

g1. Nostrils not concealed by plumes nor bristles; rictal
bristles not conspicuously developed.

h1. Wing rounded, the primaries not greatly exceeding
the secondaries in length. ... Timeliidæ (p. 517)
h2. Wing pointed, the primaries considerably longer
than the secondaries. ... Oriolidæ (p. 693)

g2. Nostrils concealed by antrorse feathers, or by both
feathers and long bristles.

h1. Smaller; wing, less than 200 mm.; frontal feathers
shorter, never extending far in front of the nostrils;
nasal bristles often extending beyond the frontal
feathers.

i1. Under tail-coverts shorter, not extending beyond
the toes in skins.

j1. Hind toe longer than longest lateral toe, its
claw large; outer toe much longer than inner toe;
bill slender; culmen nearly straight. ... Sittidæ
(p. 609)
j2. Hind toe equal to, or shorter than, longest
lateral toe, its claw not conspicuously larger
than the claws of anterior toes; outer toe slightly
longer than inner toe; culmen more or less curved,
usually with a notch near the tip of mandible;
or else the bill short, stout, and conoid.

k1. Bill much flattened, wide at the base, and
with long rictal and nasal bristles; or else bill
slender; legs and feet usually weak; wing, not over
95 mm., usually much less. ... Muscicapidæ (p. 430)
k2. Bill strong and compressed, or else short
and conoid with no notch near the tip; legs and
feet stout.

l1. Tail short and square, reaching little if
at all beyond the toes; bill short, stout, and
conoid; wing, 80 mm. or less. ... Paridæ (p. 604)
l2. Tail moderately to very long; bill large
and compressed, culmen strongly curved; wing,
85 mm. or more.

m1. Rectrices long, narrow, and graduated;
plumage never glossy nor entirely black;
upper mandible with a strong notch near the
tip. ... Laniidæ (p. 591)
m2. Rectrices long and broad, the outermost
curved outward; tail slightly to deeply
forked; feathers on sides of neck more or less
lengthened and pointed; plumage glossy black
(abdomen white in one species). ... Dicruridæ
(p. 702)

i2. Under tail-coverts longer, extending beyond the
toes in skins; bill stout, as wide as deep at nostril;
culmen strongly arched; rictal and nasal bristles
inconspicuous. ... Campophagidæ (p. 478)

h2. Larger; wing, more than 200 mm.; plumes covering
the nostrils numerous and long, extending well beyond
the nostrils; no nasal bristles; plumage entirely
black. ... Corvidæ (p. 721)

Family HIRUNDINIDÆ.

Bill weak, short, flat, and broad, the edges smooth; a small notch near end of upper mandible; culmen nearly straight, except at tip; nostrils exposed; rictal bristles small and weak; wings long and narrow; primaries nine, the first slightly longer than the second; secondaries very short; tail more or less forked; tarsus and toes slender, moderate in size, usually unfeathered.

Genera.

a1. Toes and tarsus thickly covered with short feathers. ... Chelidonaria (p. 424) a2. Toes, and usually the tarsus, entirely devoid of feathers.