668 



PROCEEDINGS or THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. XXXV. 



Ramphalcyon c. gigantea the southeastern portion through the Sulu 

 Islands, Mindanao, and Leyte. That the two meet on Luzon is prob- 

 able, and that they intergrade is indicated by the aberrant specimen 

 of R. c. gigantea from Sorsogon mentioned under that form. 



The above measurements came from the specimens listed below: 



Museum and No. 



Sex. 



Locality. 



Date. 



Collector 



I'.S.VM. 101211... 

 A.N.S. Phila. 49602 

 U.S.N.M. 161210... 



A.N.S. Phila. 49601 



Mindoro Island, Philippine 



Islands. 

 Pola, Mindoro, Philippine 



Islands. 

 Mindoro Island, Philippine 



Islands. 

 Pola, Mindoro, Philippine 



Islands. 



June 2,1888 | Dr. F. S. Bourns. 



Nov. 20,1903 j Dr. E. II. Porter. 



June 13,1888 Dr. F. S. Bourns. 



Oct. 21,1903 ] 



RAMPHALCYON CAPENSIS GIGANTEA (Walden). 



Pelargopsis gigantea Walden, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 4th ser., XIII, 

 1S74, p. 123 (Salok Solo, Sulu Islands, Philippine Archipelago). 



/Subspecific characters. — Similar to Ramphalcyon capensis javana, 

 but pileum, cervix, and entire lower surface very much paler, varying 

 from deep buff to almost white, and the mantle much more greenish 

 blue. 



Measurements. — Five males: Wing, 148.5-152.5 (average, 150.8) ; 

 tail, 89-94.5 (average, 91.3) ; exposed culmen, 74.5-78.5 (average. 

 76.7) ; tarsus, 16-17.5 (average, 16.8). Tico females: Wing, 147-155 

 (average, 151) ; tail, 84-89.5 (average, 86.8) ; exposed culmen, 78-82.5 

 (average, 80.3) ; tarsus, 17.5-18.5 (average, 18) mm. 



Type-locality. — Salok Solo, Sulu Islands, Philippine Islands. 



Geographical distribution. — Southern and central parts of the 

 Philippine Archipelago, on the islands of Sulu, Lapac, Tawi Tawi. 

 Bongao, and Sibutu, in the Sulu group: Mindanao, Malanipa, Basi- 

 lan, Leyte, Dinagat, Masbate, Negros, Panay. Guimaras, Samar, 

 Cebu, Tablas, Sibuyan, Ticao, and the 'far southeastern end of Luzon. 



In its extreme manifestation this race is a very different bird from 

 either Ramphalcyon cupensis capensis or Ramphalcyon capensis j,i- 

 ranu. for its very pale head and under parts distinguish it at sight. 

 It differs from (lie former in the same way as from the latter, and 

 additionally in its decidedly larger size. Although R. c. gigantea 

 thus appears to very distinct, the extreme individual variations of all 

 these three birds approximate very closely the characters of each. 

 The present race has previously never been recorded from Luzon, 

 but its occurrence on this island, at least near the southeastern end, 

 is attested by a specimen in the collection of the Philadelphia Acad 

 emy of Sciences, obtained by Dr. E. il. Porter at Sorsogon. This 

 example, while clearly referable to Ramphalcyon c. gigantea, shows 

 a decided approach to Ramvhalcvon c. gouldi. in the more deeply 



