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NOTES ON FOUR BIRDS FROM LUZON AND ON A SPECIES 
OF DOUBTFUL OCCURRENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES. 
By Ricnarp C. McGREGor. 
(From the zoélogical section of the Biological Laboratory of the Bureau of Science, 
Manila, P. I.) : 
Strix candida Tick. 
Two adult females and a full grown young barn owl were purchased 
in Manila February 15, 1906. They were said to have been taken at 
Binang, La Laguna Province, Luzon. 
The young bird, doubtless captured on the nest, is heavily covered with light, 
ochreous down; face brown; feathers of ruff white with blackish brown tips; 
rectrices and remiges partly developed. This specimen is of interest as it estab- 
lishes the fact that the barn owl breeds in the Philippines. The eggs must have 
been deposited early in January. 
Antigone sharpei Blanf. 
Mr. Worcester, in a letter dated April 25, 1906, has sent me the 
following interesting notes concerning the habits of the above species 
in northern Luzon: 
It may interest you to know that I saw Antigone sharpei in large numbers in 
Cagayan and Isabela during my recent trip through those provinces. I am 
informed that these birds nest on the ground in May, contenting themselves with 
scraping together and flattening down a little grass on which to deposit their eggs. 
About August they lose their long wing feathers and when in this condition can 
rise but a few feet from the ground. The people of Isabela then pursue them 
on horseback and take them with lassoes, although according to the statements 
of the hunters the birds, aided by their wings, run about as fast as deer. 
Herodias timoriensis Less. 
While examining some mounted birds at the shop of a Filipino 
taxidermist I saw a white heron which belonged to the above species. 
It was still fresh, having been killed the previous week. I noted the 
following data: 
Killed on the Laguna de Bay, Luzon, March 16, 1906. Sexed by the taxidermist 
as a male. Entire legs and feet black; bill yellow. Dorsal plumes reaching 
little beyond base of tail, the bird being in rather poor plumage. Tarsus, 6.25 
inches; bill from gape, 5.5; culmen from frontal feathers, 4.5. 
765 
