^8 DireHof s Annual Report. 



Genus RHIPIDURA Vigors & Horsford. 



a'. "Bases of all the tail feathers, rump and upper tail coverts 

 rufous, length 4.94." Rhipidura saipanensis. 



a^ Bases of the tail feathers, rump and upper tail coverts a 

 bright rufous, length 5.50-6.25. Rhipidura uranicc. 



48. Rhipidura saipanensis Hart. 



Mr. Hartert, in Nov. Zool., 1898, V., p. 54, describes the 

 Rhipidura from the island of Saipan as a new species. I have no 

 specimens from Saipan, but in description they are charadterized 

 as having the base of recftrices rufous ; rump and upper tail coverts 

 rufous ; sides of abdomen rufous; ear coverts, line under eye, and 

 lores black ; all of which is most certainly true of the R. uranice, 

 which I now have before me. These were taken on the island 

 of Guam during the months of June, July and August, 1900. 

 The measurement of R. saipane7isis is given as (male): "Length 

 151mm., wing 69mm., tail 80mm., bill 8mm., tarsus 19mm. 

 Hab. Island of vSaipan, Marianas." 



49. Rhipidura uranise Oust. Chirita. Fan-tailed Fly- 

 catcher. 



Rhipidura uianicr, Oustalet, Bui. Soc. Philoin de Paris, V., p. 75 : Wiglesw., Aves Polynes., 

 1891, p. 20. 



This is one of the most interesting little birds on the island, 

 and they were so abundant that it was quite unusual to walk half 

 a mile along the road without seeing at least a pair of them, or 

 hearing their sweet little song which consists of about six low 

 musical notes. It also makes a peculiar charring sound to warn 

 people away from its nest. The following account was written in 

 the field as I watched the bird and is copied from my field notes 

 of June 28 : 



"vSeated in the brush waiting to hear the warble of Ga-kalison, 

 'The Dweller among the Reeds' {A. lucinia)^ I have a good oppor- 

 tunity to watch and compare the notes and habits of the two Guam 

 fiy-catchers, R. tiranice and M. freycineti, which are now feeding 

 within six feet of me. Ur-anicE is extremely adtive, and as com- 

 pared to it the movements of Firycineti are very slow and clums}'. 

 I'ranicc has the most astonishing way of whirling around and 

 alighting just the other end on from what one expects. In this 

 instance it was as polite as a Spaniard, and always faced towards 

 me, spreading its beautiful fan-like tail and making a low chirping 

 note. Not so the Freycincti , who looked me over critically, elevated 

 his head crest, and giving his tail an odd little twerk, proceeded to 

 hop deliberately up the limb like a sap-sucker, bus}- at work look- 



